Reflective Silicate Clouds May Have Been Detected on Exoplanet TOI-561b
Researchers examining James Webb Space Telescope data have determined that the rocky exoplanet TOI-561b may possess a reflective atmosphere that balances heat despite intense radiation.
Data from the James Webb Space Telescope, operated by NASA, ESA, and CSA, has provided new findings regarding the atmosphere of the exoplanet TOI-561b, located 280.5 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sextans.
In a study published in the Astronomical Journal by a team led by Samuel Boucher, it was stated that the super-Earth class planet completes its orbit in 10 hours. Having 1.4 times the radius and 2.2 times the mass of Earth, the planet's brightness variation was tracked during four secondary eclipses and three transits using Webb's NIRSpec instrument.
The brightness temperature on the planet's dayside was measured at approximately 2,050 Kelvin. This temperature, which is lower than the expected 3.200 Kelvin value for a bare rock surface, was interpreted as clouds composed of silicate minerals acting as a sunscreen and redistributing heat.
Sources
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