Exploring the glowing atmosphere of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-33 b

Star system: WASP-33 | Distance from the Sun: 378 light years

Astronomers have conducted a detailed study of the scorching dayside of WASP-33 b, a giant gas planet much hotter than any planet in our solar system. By analyzing light captured during eclipses, the team discovered a thermal inversion layer where the atmosphere actually gets hotter with altitude, similar to how Earth's stratosphere behaves. 

The findings reveal a complex chemical cocktail including water vapor, carbon monoxide, and likely titanium oxide, all wrapped in a high-metallicity environment with more carbon than oxygen. These chemical signatures suggest that this 'ultra-hot Jupiter' formed by pulling in massive amounts of metal-rich gas, providing a unique window into how giant planets evolve far beyond our own cosmic neighborhood.

Scientific study

Thermal emission spectra of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-33 b (external link)