” We were delighted!” said David Grant, a scientist at the University of Bristol in the UK and first author of the brand-new research study. “We knew from Hubble observations that there need to be aerosols– tiny particles making up clouds or haze– in WASP-17 bs atmosphere, however we didnt expect them to be made from quartz.”
The James Webb Space Telescope has actually captured a transmission spectrum of the hot gas giant exoplanet WASP-17 b, revealing the first-ever evidence of quartz (SiO2) in an exoplanets clouds. In truth, this groundbreaking finding is the very first identification of any particular cloud types in a transiting exoplanet.
AI-generated image. Artistic depiction of exoplanet WASP-17 b transiting in front of its star, with tiny quartz crystals in its environment.
Fluffy puffy hot exoplanets
Yet, we understand what it has in its atmosphere thanks to a brand-new research study that included the James Webb Telescope.
WASP-17 b is about 1,000 light-years (310 parsecs) from Earth. Its a huge, hot, Jupiter-type planet with a really low density; in reality, its one of the “puffiest planets” ever found. We cant see it– we only understand its there because it blocks some of the light from its star. Thats why its called a “transiting” exoplanet, due to the fact that what we understand about it, we understand from when it transits in front of its star.
Astronomers determined modifications in brightness throughout 28 different wavelengths as the world crosses in front of its star. By calculating the distinction between the initial light emitted by the star and the light that made it through the worlds atmosphere, scientists could determine which wavelengths were absorbed by the planets environment, therefore giving ideas to its structure.
Image credits: NASA/ESA
To put it simply, the presence of quartz crystals would completely describe the observed data.
The information was gathered over almost 10 hours and involved more than 1275 measurements before, during, and after the planets transit across its host star. For each wavelength, the quantity of light obstructed by the planets environment (white circles in the chart above) was determined by deducting the light that made it through the atmosphere from the light discharged by the star. Different particles correspond to different wavelengths, and in the wavelength of quartz, there was a surprising “bump”.
A common mineral in an unusual location
The quartz crystals arent the only thing that makes WASP-17 b unique.
Quartz is a mineral consisting of silicon and oxygen. When astronomers discover indications of silicate crystals on exoplanets, its normally other silicate minerals (like olivine and pyroxene), not pure quartz.
The quartz crystals might look something like this. Image credits: Jason/ Unsplash.
” WASP-17 b is exceptionally hot– around 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,700 ° F)– and the pressure where they form high in the atmosphere is just about one-thousandth of what we experience on Earths surface area,” discussed Grant. “In these conditions, strong crystals can form directly from gas, without going through a liquid stage initially.”
Quartz is a common mineral on Earth and its probably present in other rocky worlds. Its present in the crust of the Earth– not the environment.
” We fully anticipated to see magnesium silicates. But what were seeing instead are likely the building blocks of those, the small seed particles required to form the larger silicate grains we identify in cooler exoplanets and brown overshadows.”
The quartz crystals in WASP-17 b are probably comparable fit to what you find in gem shops on Earth (pointy hexagonal prisms), but much smaller. Each one is probably around 10 nanometers throughout, or 10,000 times smaller sized than the width of a human hair.
An unusual, hellish planet
Exactly how much quartz is on the planet and what this indicates for other exoplanets is hard to figure out. The revelation of quartz in the atmosphere of WASP-17 b isnt simply a single “Eureka” minute for planetary researchers, its a turning point. With James Webb, we can explore the environment of exoplanets in unprecedented information. As our tools get more advanced, so too does our view into deep spaces intricacies.
However the world itself is tidally locked– suggesting it just “sees” its star on one side, similar to we in the world just see one side of the moon. This implies that one side is much hotter than the other. This creates huge winds that can move the particles around at high speeds.
The James Webb Space Telescope, still in its early days of operational life, is already redefining the frontiers of what we understand about exoplanets. This study showcases how much it can achieve, particularly when combined with other telescopes like Hubble.
The research study is likewise a nod to the Hubble Telescope. Although the chemical signature of the crystals was just possible thanks to the tools onboard the James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble likewise played its part.
” The clouds are likely present along the day/night shift, which is the area that our observations probe,” said Grant. “The winds might be moving these tiny glassy particles around at thousands of miles per hour.”
For each wavelength, the quantity of light obstructed by the worlds environment (white circles in the chart above) was computed by subtracting the light that made it through the atmosphere from the light discharged by the star. Quartz is a typical mineral on Earth and its most likely present in other rocky worlds. Precisely how much quartz is on the world and what this implies for other exoplanets is difficult to figure out. The discovery of quartz in the environment of WASP-17 b isnt simply a single “Eureka” moment for planetary scientists, its a turning point.
The research study “JWST-TST DREAMS: Quartz Clouds in the Atmosphere of WASP-17b” was released in the journal Astrophysical Journal Letters.
” Hubble data really played a key role in constraining the size of these particles,” explained co-author Nikole Lewis of Cornell University, who leads the Webb Guaranteed Time Observation (GTO) program designed to assist develop a three-dimensional view of a hot Jupiter atmosphere. “We understand there is silica from Webbs information alone, however we needed the near-infrared and noticeable observations from Hubble for context, to find out how large the crystals are.”
“We knew from Hubble observations that there need to be aerosols– tiny particles making up clouds or haze– in WASP-17 bs atmosphere, but we didnt expect them to be made of quartz.”
WASP-17 b is odd for a few reasons. Its not uncommon that its a “Hot Jupiter” however it is uncommon because of the method it spins. It turns in an instructions counter to its orbit of the star. It was the only world understood to do so when it was found in 2009. The discovery was so surprising that it challenged conventional planetary development theory.
