The atmosphere of titanium oxide functions like the ozone layer on Earth.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Scientists discovered a planet outside the solar system may have a complex atmosphere made of metallic gases. Research published in the journal Nature Astronomy, found evidence that metals found in the atmosphere of WASP-189b are the first to show that a gas giant planet like Jupiter may have a complex atmosphere like Earth’s.
Previously, astronomers assumed that an exoplanet’s atmosphere existed as a uniform layer. “In the past, it was only possible to analyze the atmospheres of this type of exoplanet with a one-dimensional model,” said Bibiana Prinoth, a doctoral student at Lund University in Sweden who is the lead author of the study, in a press release. UPI, Tuesday (1/2/2022)
“In our research, we pave the way for using high-resolution spectrographs to gain a deeper understanding of exoplanetary atmospheres,” he said.
The researchers specifically noted the presence of titanium oxide can absorb short-wave radiation such as ultraviolet radiation emitted by stars such as the sun.
“His detection was able to show layers in WASP-189b’s atmosphere interacting with stellar irradiation similar to how the ozone layer is on Earth,” said study co-author Kevin Heng, professor of astrophysics at the University of Ber, in a press release.
Prinoth said the researchers found evidence that the atmosphere is lined with different gases in different ways – such as the water vapor and ozone layers in Earth’s atmosphere. Other metallic gases found in WASP-189b’s atmosphere include iron, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, and manganese.
“I am often asked whether I think my research is relevant to the search for life elsewhere in the universe. My answer is always yes. This type of study is the first step in this search,” Prinoth said.
Above its metallic atmosphere, WASP-189b is a planet located 322 light-years from Earth. This planet is perhaps the most extreme of the 42,000 known exoplanets. Daytime temperatures there are around 5,792 degrees Fahrenheit.
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