Post by Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

Mapping an Ultra-Hot World: New JWST Insights into WASP-121 b 🌌 MPIA astronomers Cyril Gapp, Thomas Evans-Soma (also University of Newcastle), and Eva-Maria Ahrer have achieved a major milestone in exoplanet research, revealing distinct atmospheric differences between the morning and evening zones of the ultra-hot gas giant WASP-121 b.   Using the unprecedented sensitivity of the James Webb Space Telescope (#JWST), the team led by PhD student Cyril Gapp was able to:   📍 Probe Longitude by Longitude: By observing the planet’s 30-degree rotation during its transit, researchers analysed changes in light absorption over different regions of the atmosphere.   🌡️ Reveal Extreme Asymmetry: Powerful winds transport intense heat eastward from the day side, making the evening terminator significantly hotter and more expanded than the morning side.   ⚗️ Detect Chemical Dissociation: On the scorching evening side, temperatures are so high that water molecules are broken down into their constituents, while carbon monoxide remains stable.   This study serves as a new blueprint for constraining the 3D structure and chemical heterogeneity of distant worlds beyond our solar system. 🚀   Congratulations to the international team for these groundbreaking results!   🔗 Read the full press release and watch the animations here: https://lnkd.in/dw8xmRU9 #Astronomy #Exoplanets #JWST #ScienceNews #MPIA #MaxPlanck #WASP121b #SpaceExploration