Exoplanet Forecast: Hot and Wet

Spitzer_ssc2007-12a_1024

spitzer_ssc2007-12a July 11th, 2007

Credit: ESA, NASA/ JPL-Caltech/G. Tinett (Instiute d'Astrophysique de Paris, University College London)

This plot of data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope tells astronomers that a toasty gas exoplanet, or a planet beyond our solar system, contains water vapor.

Spitzer observed the planet, called HD 189733b, cross in front of its star at three different infrared wavelengths: 3.6 microns, 5.8 microns, and 8 microns (see lime-colored dots). For each wavelength, the planet's atmosphere absorbed different amounts of the starlight that passed through it. The pattern by which this absorption varies with wavelength matches known signatures of water, as shown by the theoretical model in blue.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1811-ssc2007-12a-Exoplanet-Forecast-Hot-and-Wet

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: Public Domain

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Image Details

Image Type
Chart
Object Name
HD 189733b
Subject - Milky Way
Planet > Special Cases > Transiting
Planet > Special Cases > Hot Jupiter

Distance

Universescale1
63 light years

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared 3.6 µm
Spitzer (IRAC) 5.8 µm
Spitzer (IRAC) 8.0 µm
Plot of absorption measured in three IRAC bands
Spectrum_base
Spitzer_ssc2007-12a_1280
×
ID
ssc2007-12a
Subject Category
B.1.3.1.   B.1.3.2.  
Subject Name
HD 189733b
Credits
ESA, NASA/ JPL-Caltech/G. Tinett (Instiute d'Astrophysique de Paris, University College London)
Release Date
2007-07-11
Lightyears
63
Redshift
Reference Url
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1811-ssc2007-12a-Exoplanet-Forecast-Hot-and-Wet
Type
Chart
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Spitzer, Spitzer, Spitzer
Instrument
IRAC, IRAC, IRAC
Color Assignment
Band
Infrared
Bandpass
Central Wavelength
3600, 5800, 8000
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
P
Coordinate Frame
Equinox
Reference Value
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Spitzer Space Telescope
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
Public Domain
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
ssc2007-12a.tif
Metadata Date
2012-02-02
Metadata Version
1.1
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
63 light years

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