spitzer_ssc2014-07b2 September 24th, 2014
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)
Scientists were excited to discover clear skies on a relatively small planet, about the size of Neptune, using the combined power of NASA's Hubble, Spitzer and Kepler space telescopes. The view from this planet -- were it possible to fly a spaceship into its gaseous layers -- is illustrated here.
The clear planet, called HAT-P-11b, is gaseous with a rocky core, much like our own Neptune. Its atmosphere may have clouds deeper down, but the new observations show that the upper region is cloud-free. This good visibility enabled scientists to detect water vapor molecules in the planet's atmosphere.
Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope
Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/5962-ssc2014-07b2-A-Sunny-Outlook-for-Weather-on-Exoplanets
Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA
Image Use Policy: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy
Detailed color mapping information coming soon...
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