Astronomers Discover Record High Winds on Exoplanet WASP-127b
Researchers have detected the fastest winds ever recorded on an exoplanet, WASP-127b, located over 500 light years from Earth. The winds flow at supersonic speeds of up to 33,000 kilometers per hour, far surpassing any known weather patterns found within our solar system.
A team led by Lisa Nortmann from the University of Göttingen analyzed the planet's atmosphere using the European Space Agency's Very Large Telescope in Chile. Their findings reveal striking variations in the signals received, indicating complex atmospheric dynamics similar to those on Earth.
WASP-127b, slightly larger than Jupiter but with only 16% of its mass, experiences extreme temperature fluctuations due to its tidal locking, leading to one side baking at over 1,000 degrees Celsius while the other remains in perpetual darkness. The discovery of these intense winds and the presence of carbon monoxide adds depth to our understanding of planetary atmospheres and their formation processes.
This groundbreaking research was published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, highlighting the unique characteristics of this gas giant and its extreme weather patterns.
Weekly Newsletter
News summary by melangenews