“WASP-107b is a special gaseous exoplanet that orbits a star somewhat cooler and less enormous than our Sun.An Exotic Atmospheric Cycle of Silicate DropletsIn contrast to Earths atmosphere, where water freezes at low temperature levels, silicate particles can freeze out to form clouds in gaseous planets that achieve temperature levels around 1000 degrees Celsius. In the case of WASP-107b, where the external atmosphere becomes as hot as approximately 500 degrees Celsius, conventional designs predicted that these silicate clouds should form much deeper within the atmosphere, where temperature levels are substantially greater.”The truth that we see these sand clouds high up in the environment should imply that the sand rain beads evaporate in deeper, very hot layers.
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/ NASAObservations with JWSTs MIRI detect water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and sand clouds in the atmosphere of WASP-107b. By peering deep into its fluffy environment, they discovered water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and even silicate sand clouds.”WASP-107b is a special gaseous exoplanet that orbits a star slightly cooler and less enormous than our Sun.An Exotic Atmospheric Cycle of Silicate DropletsIn contrast to Earths environment, where water freezes at low temperature levels, silicate particles can freeze out to form clouds in gaseous planets that achieve temperatures around 1000 degrees Celsius. In the case of WASP-107b, where the external environment becomes as hot as approximately 500 degrees Celsius, conventional designs predicted that these silicate clouds should form much deeper within the atmosphere, where temperatures are significantly greater.”The fact that we see these sand clouds high up in the atmosphere need to imply that the sand rain droplets vaporize in deeper, really hot layers.