A surprisingly low methane reservoir could explain how a planet around a nearby star became strangely puffy, according to new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The finding shows that planetary atmospheres can inflate to remarkable amounts without resorting to esoteric theories of planet formation, astronomers say. “The Webb data tells us that … Read more
The warm gas giant WASP-107 b, known for its unusually low density and moderate temperature, may have an inflated atmosphere due to tidal heating that warms its interior more than previously thought. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.com A surprising depletion of methane suggests that tidal heating has puffed up the atmosphere of warm gas giant WASP-107 … Read more
A surprisingly low methane reservoir could explain how a planet around a nearby star became strangely bloated, according to new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST(. The finding shows that planetary atmospheres can inflate to remarkable amounts without resorting to esoteric theories of planet formation, astronomers say. “The Webb data tells us that … Read more