These observations were taken as part of the Guaranteed Time Observation program 1280.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the worlds leading space science observatory. Webb is solving secrets in our solar system, looking beyond to remote worlds around other stars, and probing the mystical structures and origins of our universe and our location in it. Webb is a worldwide program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency.
The European consortium group includes 46 astronomers from 29 research institutions throughout 12 nations. From the KU Leuven, the team consists of Leen Decin, Thomas Konings, Bart Vandenbussche, Ioannis Argyriou, and Linus Heinke.
Artist impression of WASP-107b and its moms and dad star. Credit: Illustration: LUCA School of Arts, Belgium/ Klaas Verpoest (visuals), Johan Van Looveren (typography). Science: Achrène Dyrek (CEA and Université Paris Cité, France), Michiel Min (SRON, the Netherlands), Leen Decin (KU Leuven, Belgium)/ European MIRI EXO GTO team/ ESA/ NASA
A team of astronomers used recent observations made with the James Webb Space Telescope to study the atmosphere of the neighboring exoplanet WASP-107 b. Peering deep into the fluffy atmosphere of WASP-107b they found not only water vapor and sulfur dioxide, but even silicate sand clouds. These particles reside within a vibrant atmosphere that shows energetic transportation of product.
Astronomers worldwide are utilizing the sophisticated capabilities of the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to carry out groundbreaking observations of exoplanets– planets orbiting stars besides our own Sun. Among these interesting worlds is WASP-107 b, an unique gaseous exoplanet that orbits a star a little cooler and less enormous than our Sun, which was observed by a group of European astronomers, co-led by scientists from the Institute of Astronomy, KU Leuven.
The mass of the planet resembles that of Neptune however its size is much bigger than that of Neptune, nearly approaching the size of Jupiter. This particular renders WASP-107b rather fluffy when compared to the gas giant planets within our planetary system. The fluffiness of this exoplanet enables astronomers to look roughly 50 times deeper into its atmosphere compared to the depth of exploration accomplished for a solar-system giant like Jupiter.
WASP-107b is an unique gaseous exoplanet that orbits a star a little cooler and less enormous than our Sun.
Extensive Atmospheric Analysis
The team of European astronomers took full benefit of the impressive fluffiness of this exoplanet, enabling them to look deep into its atmosphere. The factor behind this is rather uncomplicated: the signals, or spectral features, are far more popular in a less dense atmosphere compared to a more compact one.
These detections supply vital insights into the characteristics and chemistry of this fascinating exoplanet. The absence of methane tips at a possibly warm interior, providing an alluring peek into the movement of heat energy in the worlds atmosphere. The discovery of sulfur dioxide (understood for the odor of burnt matches), was a significant surprise. Previous models had forecasted its absence, however novel environment models of WASP-107bs atmosphere now show that the really fluffiness of WASP-107 b accommodates the formation of sulfur dioxide in its environment. Even though its host star produces a reasonably little portion of high-energy photons due to its cooler nature, these photons can reach deep into the worlds environment thanks to its fluffy nature. This makes it possible for the chemical responses required to produce sulfur dioxide to happen.
A transmission spectrum of the warm Neptune exoplanet WASP-107b, recorded by the Low Resolution Spectrometer (LRS) of the Mid InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) on board JWST, exposes proof for water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and silicate (sand) clouds in the planets environment. Credit: Michiel Min/ European MIRI EXO GTO team/ ESA/ NASA
Cloud Composition and Dynamics
Thats not all theyve observed. Both the spectral functions of sulfur dioxide and water vapor are substantially diminished compared to what they would remain in a cloudless scenario. High-altitude clouds partially obscure the water vapor and sulfur dioxide in the environment. While clouds have actually been inferred on other exoplanets, this marks the very first circumstances where astronomers can definitively identify the chemical structure of these clouds. In this case, the clouds include small silicate particles, a familiar compound for humans discovered in lots of parts of the world as the main constituent of sand.
” JWST is changing exoplanet characterization, supplying unmatched insights at remarkable speed,” says lead author Prof. Leen Decin of KU Leuven. “The discovery of clouds of sand, water, and sulfur dioxide on this fluffy exoplanet by JWSTs MIRI instrument is a pivotal turning point. It improves our understanding of planetary formation and development, shedding brand-new light on our own Solar System.”
Peering deep into the fluffy environment of WASP-107 b a group of European astronomers discovered not only water vapor and sulfur dioxide, however even silicate sand clouds. Credit: Illustration: LUCA School of Arts, Belgium/ Klaas Verpoest (visuals), Johan Van Looveren (typography). Science: Achrène Dyrek (CEA and Université Paris Cité, France), Michiel Min (SRON, the Netherlands), Leen Decin (KU Leuven, Belgium)/ European MIRI EXO GTO group/ ESA/ NASA
Temperature Level and Cloud Formation
In contrast to Earths atmosphere, where water freezes at low temperature levels, in gaseous worlds reaching temperature levels around 1000 degrees Celsius (~ 1800 degrees Fahrenheit), silicate particles can freeze out to form clouds. In the case of WASP-107 b, with a temperature of around 500 degrees Celsius (~ 900 degrees Fahrenheit) in the external atmosphere, traditional designs forecasted that these silicate clouds need to be forming much deeper within the environment, where temperatures are considerably greater.
According to lead author Dr. Michiel Min: “The reality that we see these sand clouds high up in the environment should imply that the sand rain beads evaporate in deeper, extremely hot layers, and the resulting silicate vapor is efficiently returned up, where they recondense to form silicate clouds again. This is extremely comparable to the water vapor and cloud cycle on our own Earth but with droplets made of sand.” This constant cycle of sublimation and condensation through vertical transport is accountable for the sustaining existence of sand clouds in WASP-107 bs environment.
The James Webb Space Telescope was developed to study the atmospheres of exoplanets and could figure out if these planets are habitable or consist of biosignatures. Credit: Northrop Grumman
Improvements in Exoplanetary Research
This pioneering research study not just sheds light on the exotic world of WASP-107b but also pushes the limits of our understanding of exoplanetary atmospheres. It marks a considerable milestone in exoplanetary expedition, revealing the complex interaction of chemicals and weather conditions on these distant worlds.
” JWST allows a deep atmospheric characterization of an exoplanet that does not have any counterpart in our Solar System, we are unraveling new worlds!” says lead author Dr. Achrène Dyrek at CEA Paris.
Style and Development of the MIRI Instrument
Thanks to financing from the Belgian federal science policy office BELSPO through the ESA PRODEX program, Belgian engineers and scientists played an essential function in the style and development of the MIRI instrument, consisting of the Centre Spatial de Liege (CSL), Thales Alenia Space (Charleroi) and OIP Sensor Systems (Oudenaarde). At the Institute of Astronomy at KU Leuven, instrument researchers evaluated the MIRI instrument extensively in special test chambers mimicing the space environment in laboratories in the UK, at NASA Goddard and NASA Johnson Space centers..
” With associates across Europe and the United States, we have been building and evaluating the MIRI instrument for nearly 20 years. It is rewarding to see our instrument decipher the atmosphere of this appealing exoplanet,” states instrument specialist Dr. Bart Vandenbussche of KU Leuven.
This study combines the outcomes of several independent analyses of the JWST observations, and represents the years of work invested not just in developing the MIRI instrument but likewise in the calibration and analysis tools for the observational data acquired with MIRI,” says Dr. Jeroen Bouwman of the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Germany.
Referral: “SO2, silicate clouds, however no CH4 identified in a warm Neptune with JWST MIRI” 15 November 2023, Nature.DOI: 10.1038/ s41586-023-06849-0.
Funding: KU Leuven, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions.
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Previous models had predicted its lack, but unique climate models of WASP-107bs atmosphere now reveal that the really fluffiness of WASP-107 b accommodates the formation of sulfur dioxide in its atmosphere. High-altitude clouds partly obscure the water vapor and sulfur dioxide in the environment. Peering deep into the fluffy atmosphere of WASP-107 b a group of European astronomers found not only water vapor and sulfur dioxide, however even silicate sand clouds. In the case of WASP-107 b, with a temperature of around 500 degrees Celsius (~ 900 degrees Fahrenheit) in the external environment, traditional designs predicted that these silicate clouds need to be forming much deeper within the atmosphere, where temperature levels are significantly greater. According to lead author Dr. Michiel Min: “The truth that we see these sand clouds high up in the environment should indicate that the sand rain beads evaporate in deeper, very hot layers, and the resulting silicate vapor is effectively moved back up, where they recondense to form silicate clouds once more.