A groundbreaking discovery emerges from the depths of space as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) unravels the atmospheric secrets of an enigmatic exoplanet, WASP-107b. Approximately 200 light-years away in the constellation of Virgo, this “fluffy” planet defies expectations, showcasing a weather cycle akin to Earth’s but with a peculiar twist—it rains sand droplets from silicate clouds.
European astronomers, leveraging JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), delved into the atmospheric composition of WASP-107b, uncovering a captivating blend of water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and sand clouds. Dr. Achrene Dyrek, an astronomer at CEA, Paris, expressed, “JWST enables a deep atmospheric characterization of an exoplanet that does not have any counterpart in our Solar System; we are unraveling new worlds!”
Published in Nature, this revelation marks a milestone—the first identification of chemical composition within distant planet clouds. WASP-107b’s distinct nature, resembling candyfloss with a mass less than 10% of Jupiter, continues to astound, challenging our understanding of planetary diversity.
