INBOX ASTRONOMY
NASAâs Webb Spots Swirling, Gritty Clouds on Remote Planet
Release date: Wednesday, March 22, 2023 10:00:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Weather report: Expect scattered, patchy clouds made up of silicates on planet VHS 1256 b.
Ever had sand hot whip across your face? Thatâs a soothing experience compared to the volatile conditions discovered high in the atmosphere of planet VHS 1256 b. Researchers using NASAâs James Webb Space Telescope proved that its clouds are made up of silicate particles, ranging from fine specks to small grains. Plus, its near-constant cloud cover is on the move! The team projects that the silicates swirling in these clouds periodically get too heavy and rain into the depths of the planetâs atmosphere. Webbâs observations also show clear signatures of water, methane and carbon monoxide, and provide evidence for carbon dioxide. This is only the beginning of the teamâs research â many more findings are expected as they continue to dig in to Webbâs âdownpourâ of data.
Find additional articles, images, and videos at
WebbTelescope.org
Please do not reply to this message.
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the Inbox Astronomy mailing list.
Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute's
Office of Public Outreach