RoozGozinJames Webb Telescope Maps the Irregular Atmosphere Shape of Exoplanet WASP-17b for the First Time
James Webb discovered that the atmosphere of WASP-17b is asymmetrical, with the evening terminator more inflated than the morning side.
Importance: 70 of 100
The James Webb Space Telescope has mapped the shape of the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-17b for the first time, revealing that this atmosphere is neither round nor uniform. The planet's evening terminator is swollen and more pronounced than the morning side, indicating atmospheric rotation and uneven distributions of temperature and pressure. This finding enables more detailed studies of distant planetary atmospheres.