Could a gigantic rainbow have formed on an exoplanet, namely a planet located outside the solar system? This is the question asked by scientists. The European Space Agency published a press release this Friday reporting a fascinating discovery observed using the Cheops telescope.
To understand, let’s go 637 light years from Earth, where the “confusing” gas planet Wasp-76b is located. An “extremely hot” planet, half immersed in “unbearable light”, where “it is probably raining molten iron”, according to Matthew Standing, researcher at the ESA. Telescope teams detected “for the first time” “potential signs” of a “rainbow-like glory effect”.
A discovery that requires confirmation
“Glory is formed when light passes between a narrow opening, for example between water droplets in clouds or fog,” explains the space agency. Which most often creates concentric rings of colors. And to add that this effect of glory, “often observed on Earth”, was “observed only once on another planet, Venus”.
This discovery, however, requires confirmation. “More evidence is needed to conclusively state that this intriguing ‘extra light’ is a rare glory,” concludes Theresa Lüftinger, project scientist for ESA’s upcoming Ariel mission. And to learn more, at the same time, about all the strangeness of this formidable planet Wasp-76b.