Astronomers Measure 5,400-MPH Winds on HD 189733b as Blue Exoplanet May Rain Glass
Updated
Updated · spacedaily.com · Jul 22
Astronomers Measure 5,400-MPH Winds on HD 189733b as Blue Exoplanet May Rain Glass
2 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · Jul 22
Summary
Winds above 5,400 mph have been directly measured on HD 189733b, a hot Jupiter 63 light-years away, reinforcing evidence that its atmosphere is among the most violent yet studied on an exoplanet.
The planet’s extreme weather is driven by tidal locking and a 2.2-day orbit just 2.9 million miles from its star, creating a scorching dayside near 2,000°F and a cooler nightside that fuels heat-redistributing gales.
Hubble had already shown the planet is deep blue in visible light, not from oceans but from silicate particles that scatter blue wavelengths and may condense into glass-like droplets.
That earlier work estimated sideways glass rain in 4,500-mph high-altitude flows; the newer wind measurement strengthens the broader picture of material racing around the planet at extraordinary speeds.
HD 189733b has become a key exoplanet laboratory because it transits its star, letting Hubble, Spitzer and ground-based instruments probe its color, temperature, winds and cloud physics.
What new chemical secrets will AI and the Webb telescope uncover within this planet's deadly storms of glass?
We thought hot Jupiters were locked in place. Could this blue world actually have a hidden day-night cycle?
Is this violent blue world destined to have its atmosphere stripped away, leaving only a scorched planetary core?
JWST Unveils HD 189733b’s Atmosphere: Hydrogen Sulfide, Glass Rain, and the Benchmark for Exoplanet Chemistry (July 2024)
Overview
HD 189733b, one of the first 'hot Jupiters' discovered, has been a key focus for astronomers for over two decades. With the advanced James Webb Space Telescope, scientists were excited to study this planet in detail. In July 2024, JWST observations led to the groundbreaking detection of hydrogen sulfide in HD 189733b's atmosphere, a discovery that adds to the planet's infamous reputation. This finding not only reveals new aspects of the planet's chemistry but also provides a valuable reference point for understanding the atmospheres of other gas giants beyond our solar system.