Day side: nearly 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit (1,250 degrees Celsius)
Findings published in journal Nature Astronomy
Hot Jupiter type exoplanet, located approximately 280 light-years away, primarily composed of hydrogen and helium
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope maps weather on distant Hot Jupiter exoplanet WASP-43 b
Night side: significantly cooler at around 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit (600 degrees Celsius)
Strong eastward winds reach speeds of up to 5,000 miles per hour (8,851 kilometers per hour) at the equator
An international team of researchers, utilizing NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), has successfully mapped the weather on the hot gas-giant exoplanet WASP-43 b. This distant planet, located approximately 280 light-years away from our solar system, is a Hot Jupiter type of exoplanet with a size similar to Jupiter and primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. The extreme temperatures on this celestial body are evident in the stark contrast between its day and night sides: one side experiences an average temperature of nearly 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit (1,250 degrees Celsius), while the opposite side is significantly cooler at around 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit (600 degrees Celsius).
Strong eastward winds play a crucial role in transporting heat from the dayside to the nightside of WASP-43 b. These powerful winds reach speeds of up to 5,000 miles per hour (8,851 kilometers per hour) at the equator and contribute to clear signs of water vapor being present on both sides of the planet. The team's findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
The researchers used precise brightness measurements over a broad spectrum of mid-infrared light, combined with 3D climate models and previous observations from other telescopes such as Hubble and Spitzer. Their investigation provides valuable insights into the atmospheric conditions on this intriguing exoplanet.
The team's findings demonstrate the remarkable capabilities of NASA's JWST in studying exoplanets, enabling scientists to explore weather patterns and atmospheric compositions on planets located billions of miles away from Earth. The data collected will contribute significantly to our understanding of these distant worlds and the potential for habitability beyond our solar system.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has successfully mapped the weather on the hot gas-giant exoplanet WASP-43 b.
WASP-43 b is a Hot Jupiter type of exoplanet, similar in size to Jupiter, made primarily of hydrogen and helium, and much hotter than any of the giant planets in our own solar system.
The planet orbits its star at a distance of just 1.3 million miles (less than 1/25th the distance between Mercury and the Sun).
WASP-43 b has a tight orbit, causing it to be tidally locked with one side continuously illuminated and the other in permanent darkness.
The data shows a lack of methane anywhere in the atmosphere, suggesting wind speeds reaching up to 5,000 miles per hour.
WASP-43 b is a Hot Jupiter type of exoplanet, similar in size to Jupiter and primarily made of hydrogen and helium
One side of WASP-43 b has an average temperature of nearly 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit (1,250 degrees Celsius), while the nightside is significantly cooler at 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit (600 degrees Celsius)
Strong eastward winds transport heat around from the dayside to nightside
Clear signs of water vapor on both the nightside and dayside
Accuracy
The day side of the planet is hot enough to melt iron at 2282 degrees F.
The dayside of WASP-43 b has an average temperature of nearly 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit (1,250 degrees Celsius)
Temperatures on the day side reach 1250°C
The day side of WASP-43b is constantly bombarded by radiation, sending planetary temperatures soaring to around 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit (1,250 degrees Celsius)
Day side has clear skies and no clouds
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author makes several scientific statements in the article that are not fallacies. However, there is an instance of an appeal to authority when the authors quote Taylor Bell and Joanna Barstow making claims about the exoplanet's weather patterns and atmospheric composition. This does not detract significantly from the overall quality of the article as it is a common practice in scientific reporting to cite experts in their fields. No other fallacies were found.
"But we needed more precise measurements from JWST to really begin mapping the temperature, cloud cover, winds, and more detailed atmospheric composition all the way around the planet."
"JWST is a game changer for studying exoplanet atmospheres,"
"From that, we could construct a rough map of temperature across the planet.#
The JWST found a lack of methane in the planet’s atmosphere due to raging winds passing reacting molecules through the nightside too fast for them to create detectable amounts of methane.
Vaporized material, such as rock, is carried from the dayside to the nightside of WASP-43b by powerful winds reaching speeds of 5,600 miles per hour (9,000 kilometers per hour).
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author makes several scientific statements in the article that are not fallacies. However, there is an instance of an appeal to authority when the author states '"With Hubble, we could clearly see that there is water vapor on the dayside. Both Hubble and Spitzer suggested there might be clouds on the nightside,"' and '"But we needed more precise measurements from JWST to really begin mapping the temperature, cloud cover, winds and more detailed atmospheric composition all the way around the planet."'. The author is implying that because Hubble and Spitzer suggested there might be clouds on WASP-43b's nightside, it must be true. However, this does not provide any evidence for the presence of clouds on WASP-43b's nightside or prove that JWST's findings are correct. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing WASP-43b as a '"blisteringly hot exoplanet"', '"inhospitable world"', and a ''reminder of the vast range of climates that are possible on exoplanets and the many ways in which Earth is special.'' These descriptions are not necessary to convey the scientific information in the article and serve only to elicit an emotional response from readers.
With Hubble, we could clearly see that there is water vapor on the dayside. Both Hubble and Spitzer suggested there might be clouds on the nightside,
But we needed more precise measurements from JWST to really begin mapping the temperature, cloud cover, winds and more detailed atmospheric composition all the way around the planet.
