{"id":23867,"date":"2025-02-23T20:06:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-23T12:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/esos-vlt-reveals-inner-wind-layers-of-distant-exoplanet\/"},"modified":"2025-02-23T20:06:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T12:06:59","slug":"esos-vlt-reveals-inner-wind-layers-of-distant-exoplanet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/esos-vlt-reveals-inner-wind-layers-of-distant-exoplanet\/","title":{"rendered":"ESO\u2019s VLT reveals inner wind layers of distant exoplanet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Using data from the four telescopic units of the European Southern Observatory\u2019s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT), a team of scientists has successfully peered into the atmosphere of an exoplanet for the first time. Moreover, the data allowed the team to create a three-dimensional map of the atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>The results showed powerful winds within the atmosphere. These winds carry elements like iron and titanium, which, in turn, create unique weather patterns throughout the atmosphere. VLT\u2019s observations mark the first time astronomers have been able to observe the atmosphere of an exoplanet in extreme detail.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis planet\u2019s atmosphere behaves in ways that challenge our understanding of how weather works \u2014 not just on Earth, but on all planets. It feels like something out of science fiction,\u201d said lead author Julia Victoria Seidel of ESO in Chile.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"First 3D observations of an exoplanet\u2019s atmosphere\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5FAG95ixCuo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid0\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The exoplanet, named WASP-121b and formally named Tylos, is located 900 light-years away in the constellation Puppis. Discovered in 2015, Tylos is an ultra-hot Jupiter exoplanet that orbits extremely close to its host star \u2014 completing one revolution (or a year) in approximately 30 (Earth) hours. Tylos\u2019 extreme proximity to its host star means that one side of its atmosphere is scorching hot from the star\u2019s heat, while the other side is very cool.<\/p>\n<p>In 2017, Tylos became the first planet outside of the Solar System to be found to contain water in its stratosphere. VLT\u2019s latest observations peer deeper into the atmosphere than prior observations of the exoplanet, revealing winds in distinct layers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat we found was surprising: a jet stream rotates material around the planet\u2019s equator, while a separate flow at lower levels of the atmosphere moves gas from the hot side to the cooler side. This kind of climate has never been seen before on any planet. Even the strongest hurricanes in the Solar System seem calm in comparison,\u201d said Seidel.<\/p>\n<p>Rocket building kits<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Astronomy<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Spaceflight history books<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>This jet stream is massive \u2014 spanning half of the planet. As the jet stream crosses into the hot dayside of Tylos, the stream gains speed and churns the Tylos\u2019 upper atmosphere violently.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-105086\" class=\"size-full wp-image-105086\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_0731.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_0731.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_0731-350x238.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_0731-515x350.jpeg 515w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_0731-768x522.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_0731-1170x795.jpeg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-105086\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Graphic showing the motion and structure of the different wind layers within Tylos. (Credit: ESO\/M. Kornmesser)<\/p>\n<p>VLT\u2019s observations also allowed the team to create the first-ever three-dimensional map of an exoplanet\u2019s atmosphere. Seidel et al. specifically utilized VLT\u2019s Echelle Spectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO) instrument to combine the light collected by VLT\u2019s four telescopic units into one singular signal. The team then created the three-dimensional map from this signal.<\/p>\n<p>Combining the light from the four units allows scientists who use the VLT to see four times as much light as an individual telescope and fainter details. For example, from one transit of Tylos across its host star, ESPRESSO detected multiple chemical signatures within the exoplanet\u2019s atmosphere, including iron, sodium, and hydrogen. Observing these chemical signatures allowed Seidel et al. to trace their locations within the deep, mid, and shallow layers of Tylos\u2019 atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe VLT enabled us to probe three different layers of the exoplanet\u2019s atmosphere in one fell swoop. It\u2019s the kind of observation that is very challenging to do with space telescopes, highlighting the importance of ground-based observations of exoplanets,\u201d said co-author Leonardo A. dos Santos of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 732px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=haygenwarren&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1891880449321971801&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2025%2F02%2Fvlt-tylos-atmosphere%2F&amp;sessionId=92ab1907cf11f503486a4c3c7c8f8302c0e4056f&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1891880449321971801\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Surprisingly, ESPRESSO\u2019s data also revealed the presence of titanium just below the large jet stream in Tylos\u2019 atmosphere. Previous observations of Tylos had hinted at an absence of titanium within the planet, likely because the element is buried deep in the planet\u2019s atmosphere beneath the jet stream.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s truly mind-blowing that we\u2019re able to study details like the chemical makeup and weather patterns of a planet at such a vast distance,\u201d said co-author Bibiana Prinoth of Lund University and ESO.<\/p>\n<p>The team\u2019s results are exciting for exoplanet astronomy, as they show that, with the right equipment, the atmospheres of distant exoplanets can be studied in detail. However, to reveal the inner atmospheric workings of Earth-like exoplanets, scientists are going to need much larger telescopes. ESO\u2019s upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is expected to be able to directly observe Earth-like exoplanets and research their characteristics in depth. The ELT is currently under construction in the Atacama Desert in Chile.<\/p>\n<p>\u201dThe ELT will be a game-changer for studying exoplanet atmospheres. This experience makes me feel like we\u2019re on the verge of uncovering incredible things we can only dream about now,\u201d Prinoth explained.<\/p>\n<p>Seidel et al.\u2019s results were published in the journal&nbsp;<em>Nature&nbsp;<\/em>on Feb. 18.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Lead image: Graphic showing the three main atmospheric wind layers of Tylos. Credit: ESO\/M. Kornmesser)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Using data from the four telescopic units of the European Southern Observatory\u2019s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT), a team of scientists has successfully peered into the atmosphere of an exoplanet for the first time. Moreover, the data allowed the team to create a three-dimensional map of the atmosphere. The results showed powerful winds within the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1690,5009,3119,559,499,1561,5194,8159,8160],"class_list":["post-23867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-astrophysics","tag-eso","tag-european-southern-observatory","tag-exoplanets","tag-planet","tag-planetary-science","tag-very-large-telescope","tag-vlt","tag-wasp-121b"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23867"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23867"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23867\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}