James Webb Space Telescope maps asymmetric atmosphere of exoplanet Wasp-17b

Researchers have successfully mapped the three-dimensional structure of an exoplanet atmosphere for the first time. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the study revealed that the atmosphere of Wasp-17b, a hot Jupiter located approximately 1,300 light years from Earth, is asymmetric, with one side more extended than the other.

The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, were achieved through a new method called “transmission strings.” This technique involves tracking the planet as it transits its host star, capturing the composition of light around the planet’s limb from various angles during the ingress and egress stages. The skewed shape of Wasp-17b’s atmosphere provides evidence of how supersonic winds and intense heat influence the gaseous environment of giant planets orbiting close to their stars.