The list of known exoplanets numbers in the thousands. The most prolific method of finding these worlds orbiting around other stars is to watch the dimming of the star's light as the planet passes in front of it, known as a transit.
I study the atmospheres of transiting exoplanets to better understand how their climate is affected by their environments. I'm most interested in hot gas giants: planets similar in size to Jupiter but orbiting their stars in just a few days, meaning they are baked under the intense radiation. These 'hot Jupiters' are tidally locked with a very hot permanent dayside facing the star, and a cooler nightside facing space. This dichotomy in temperature drives supersonic winds and changes the atmosphere's chemistry.
This story is from the August 2024 edition of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
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This story is from the August 2024 edition of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
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