Astronomers have detected potential signs of the rainbow-like “glory effect” on a planet beyond our solar system. This phenomenon, characterized by colorful concentric rings of light, is a rare occurrence that has only been observed on Earth and once on Venus.
If confirmed, this discovery of the first extrasolar glory could provide valuable insights into the nature of this enigmatic exoplanet, offering exciting opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of distant worlds.
Data collected from Cheops and other sources suggest that the unbearable heat and intense light on the sunlit side of exoplanet WASP-76b, combined with the perpetual darkness on its dark side, may be conducive to the formation of the first extrasolar “glory.” This rainbow-like effect is produced when light reflects off clouds composed of a uniform and currently unidentified substance.
Olivier Demangeon, an astronomer at the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences) in Portugal, and the lead author of the study, explains, “The rarity of observing a glory outside our solar system can be attributed to the specific conditions required for its formation. It necessitates near-perfectly spherical atmospheric particles that are uniform and stable over an extended period, as well as precise alignment of the planet, its star, and the observer.”
2024-04-05 12:00:03
Original from phys.org