Salt Clouds Explain the Pink Exoplanet GJ 504 b’s Faint Glow

1 min read
Source: Gizmodo
Salt Clouds Explain the Pink Exoplanet GJ 504 b’s Faint Glow
Photo: Gizmodo
TL;DR

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers obtained the first direct spectrum of the cool, pink exoplanet GJ 504 b and detected signatures of water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia; when salt clouds are included in atmospheric models, the data align with theory, implying a metal-rich planet aged roughly 2.5–4 billion years and highlighting clouds’ key role in interpreting similar faint exoplanets.

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