MXPlank News Letter - 2021-10-24

Exoplanet GJ 1214b (artist's impression)

GJ1214b, shown in this artist’s view, is a super-Earth orbiting a red dwarf star 40 light-years from Earth. New observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope show that it is a waterworld enshrouded by a thick, steamy atmosphere. GJ 1214b represents a new type of planet, like nothing seen in the Solar System or any other planetary system currently known.

Credit:
NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Artist’s illustration of temperature inversion in exoplanet’s atmosphere

NASA scientists detected a stratosphere on WASP-33b by measuring the drop in light as the planet passed behind its star (top). Temperatures in the low stratosphere rise (right) because of molecules absorbing radiation from the star; otherwise, temperatures would cool down at higher altitudes (left).

Link:

NASA Press release

Credit:
NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Identifying Planets

This graphic illustrates how a star can magnify and brighten the light of a background star when it passes in front of the distant star. If the foreground star has planets, then the planets may also magnify the light of the background star, but for a much shorter period of time than their host star. Astronomers use this method, called gravitational microlensing, to identify planets.

Links:

Credit:
NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Warped Disc around Beta Pictoris

This is a visible light image of the disk, which appears spindle-like because it is tilted nearly edge-on to our view.

The disk is made up of microscopic dust grains of ices and silicate particles, and shines by reflected light from the star.

Credit:
NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)