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A new space telescope has envisioned a planet that astronomers describe as one of the “most extreme” in the known universe.
WASP-189b was examined by the CHEOPS space telescope, and astronomers believe that its surface is 3,200 degrees Celsius, hot enough to turn iron into gas.
The planet is 322 light years from Earth in the constellation of Libra.
The planet is one and a half times the size of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, and has one side permanently turned toward its fiery blue star.
That makes temperatures hellishly hot, but as lead author Monika Lendl observes, planet WASP-189b is more extreme than others of its kind.
The WASP Planetary System (ESA)
“Based on observations using CHEOPS, we estimate the temperature of WASP-189b to be 3,200 degrees Celsius.
“Planets like WASP-189b are called” ultra-hot Jupiters. ” Iron melts at such a high temperature and even turns gaseous. This object is one of the most extreme planets we know of so far. “
The planet was seen by watching it pass in front of its host star, Lendl says.
When a planet passes in front of its star as seen from Earth, the star appears dimmer for a short time.
This phenomenon is called transit.
Lendl says: “Because the exoplanet WASP-189b is so close to its star, its day side is so bright that we can even measure the ‘missing’ light as the planet passes behind its star; this is called concealment. “
“It appears that the planet does not reflect much starlight. Instead, most of the starlight is absorbed by the planet, heating it up and making it shine. ”
Researchers believe that the planet is not very reflective because there are no clouds present on its daytime side.
Lendl says: “This is not surprising, since theoretical models tell us that clouds cannot form at such high temperatures.”
