The atmosphere melted iron on the planet twice as large as Jupiter

WASP-121b, a planet 900 light-years away from Earth, has an atmospheric temperature of 2,500 ° C, so hot that iron can be melted.

A group of international researchers discovered glowing water molecules in the stratosphere of the planet outside the solar system called WASP-121b, New Scientist on 2/8 reported.

Due to the close distance, the top part of the planet's atmosphere has a temperature of up to 2,500 ° C.

WASP-121b is a giant gas planet nearly twice the size of Jupiter and rotates around its parent star. This alien planet is so close to its parent star that a year there is only 1.3 days long on Earth. Due to the close distance, the top part of the planet's atmosphere has a temperature of up to 2,500 ° C, about half of the Sun's surface temperature. At that temperature, iron exists in the form of gas instead of the usual solid form.

"When we pointed the Hubble space telescope to the WASP, we saw glowing water molecules, indicating that the planet has a thick stratosphere , " said researcher Tom Evans of the University of Exeter, England, said. Hubble sees this light in the form of infrared light that the human eye cannot see.

"The theoretical models showing the stratosphere can help identify a special superheated planetary layer, which is important for the study of physics and chemistry in the atmosphere , " Evans said.

By examining the wavelength of light entering space from the gas on the planet, researchers can calculate the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere and its heat. The cooler steam in the top floor of the atmosphere can block some of the infra-red wavelengths transmitted, according to the US Aerospace Agency (NASA). But warmer steam will emit similar wavelengths. From the amount of light escaping into space, the team found that the temperature increased with altitude.

Exotic planet WASP-121b and mother star.(Video: YouTube).

"This super-hot planet will become a milestone for our atmospheric model. It will be a major observation target at the time of the James Webb space telescope , " said Hannah Wakeford, a scientist in China. NASA Goddard space flight center, co-author, shared.