Webb Telescope Delivers First ‘Weather Report’ for Exoplanet SIMP J0136

Webb Telescope Delivers First ‘Weather Report’ for Exoplanet SIMP J0136
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Astronomers have used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to generate the first comprehensive “weather report” for a rogue exoplanet, SIMP 0136, revealing strange atmospheric phenomena, according to Earth.com.

The exoplanet is a “free-floating” gas giant—meaning it orbits no star—located about 20 light-years from Earth. Its mass is approximately 12.7 times that of Jupiter, and its cloud tops are a searing 820 degrees Celsius (1,500 degrees Fahrenheit).

JWST’s observations revealed highly unusual atmospheric conditions, including an immense aurora and rapid rotation that creates distinct, fast-moving patches of stormy weather. Researchers determined that the exoplanet’s turbulent atmosphere is affected by both its rapid spinning and the interaction of charged particles in its powerful magnetic field, which drives the massive auroral display.

This weather report, enabled by JWST’s sensitivity to infrared light, provides new insights into the atmospheric dynamics of brown dwarfs and massive exoplanets.