Trailblazing technique uncovers real shape of scorching-hot exoplanet atmospheres (IMAGE)
Caption
WASP-17b transiting in front of its star revealing the shape of its absorbing atmosphere through JWST observations. The hot extended red side is gas transported from the permanently irradiated dayside across the evening limb of the planet, the cooler blue side is less extended as the gas has cooled across the nightside of the planet and it is being transported across the morning limb. This technique can be used to measure the changing weather patters around the planet resolving the shape of the planet as a function of angle around the transmitting limb.
Credit
Engine House and Hannah Wakeford
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