Photochemical reactions in the atmosphere of the exoplanet Bocarins

The James Webb Space Telescope discovered compounds from the results of photochemical reactions in atmosphere exoplanet Bocaprini.

This finding is the result of a 40-hour analysis of JWST observational data. Inevitably, Bocaprins became the first planet we know better after the planets of the Solar System. Of course, in the future, there will be more planets in other stars that we can get information about from observations by the JWST and other future telescopes.

WASP-39 bo Bocaprins is a hot Jupiter that is 700 light-years from Earth. Located at a distance of 0.05 AU or 7.2 million from its parent star or eight times closer from Mercury to the Sun!

At such close range, it only takes four days for Bocaprins to circle the star WASP-39, also known as the Aruba star. Being so close, the planet is certainly very hot. It’s 900ºC! The implication…. this planet is not a hospitable planet for life as we know it.

Chemical surprise

The chemical composition of the transmission spectroscopy results show the presence of sulfur dioxide and other chemical compounds. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Yes. This is a chemical element found in the atmosphere of the planet Bocaprins or WASP-39b. Not only that, JWST also revealed the presence of clouds and clues regarding the formation of the chemical elements found.

JWST discovered the sulfur dioxide when three of its instruments observed light from the star WASP-39 or the star Aruba filtered through the atmosphere of the planet Bocaprins. Previously, JWST discovered carbon dioxide on the exoplanet Bocaprins. In addition, astronomers also found clusters of atoms and molecules of sodium, potassium, water, carbon monoxide, sodium, potassium and other elements. The composition of this atmosphere is similar to that of Saturn in the Solar System.

Of course…. The Bocaprins have no rings.

The discovery of sulfur dioxide was quite surprising because at first the element appeared to be just a mysterious lump in JWST’s early observational data.

Photochemical reactions taking place on planet WASP-39 b. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Robert Hurt; Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian/Melissa Weiss.

The presence of sulfur dioxide has led astronomers to suspect that there is a photochemical reaction in the atmosphere when starlight bombards the planet. In the Solar System, photochemistry is a common chemical reaction. And for the Earth too, this photochemistry is important for the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere, in this case the formation of the ozone layer. Furthermore, photochemistry on Earth is also important for life in this case in the process of photosynthesis.

On WASP-39b, starlight actually separates the water in Bocaprins’ atmosphere into hydrogen and hydroxide, which then reacts with hydrogen sulfide and high-energy ultraviolet light. As a result, sulfur dioxide is formed.

It is not yet known whether photochemical processes on Earth also play an important role in habitable exoplanets. Indeed, photochemical reactions on exoplanets may be important information for understanding systems on other stars, which may also be very different from photochemistry on Earth.

Migrating planets

JWST data shows a low carbon to oxygen ratio on the planet Bocaprins. These data indicate that the planet WASP-39 bo Bocaprins has absorbed large quantities of water in the form of ice. This can only happen if Bocaprins was previously in a different place, or more precisely, in a place far enough from the stars.

Again this is related to the formation of hot Jupiters. How can a giant gas planet form in an area so close to a star?

The answer…. These gas giant planets formed far from the star and then migrated closer to the star.

Astronomers suspect that the planet Bocaprins is very far from the star or the equivalent of Jupiter’s distance from the Sun. The star WASP-39 is a red dwarf star smaller and cooler than the Sun. At a distance equivalent to Jupiter from the Sun, it can conclude that Bocaprins is in a very cold area and of course the elements in this area are in the form of ice, including water. So Bocaprins could attract large amounts of water ice as planetary building blocks.

The question is, does this process happen slowly over tens of millions of years or is it a very fast process with the help of the gravity of other planets or stars crossing each other.

The key is in the composition of the planets. It is from this composition that astronomers can tell which processes are taking place slowly or rapidly.

Covered by clouds

Being close to the star, inevitably the star Aruba’s gravity locks the planet Bocaprins so that only one side of the planet faces the star. Astronomers have found incomplete cloud cover. These results have never been observed on other exoplanets.

On the border between day and night, the cloud cover is only 60%. Astronomers think clouds evaporate when they reach the unusually warm dayside and condense when they reach the cooler nightside.

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