A groundbreaking 3D map of a distant planet has been created, shedding light on its unique atmosphere and temperature zones. This achievement is a testament to a novel technique called 3D eclipse mapping, which has been developed by a team of researchers led by Ryan Challener of Cornell University and Megan Weiner Mansfield of the University of Maryland. The map reveals a scorching atmosphere, with one region so hot that it breaks down water vapor, a phenomenon predicted by theory but now confirmed by real observations. The planet, WASP-18b, is a gas giant located 400 light years from Earth, orbiting its star in just 23 hours and reaching temperatures of up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes it an 'ultra-hot Jupiter', a term used to describe planets that are extremely close to their stars and incredibly hot. The team's research, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, demonstrates the potential of 3D eclipse mapping to study exoplanets, which are planets orbiting other stars. The technique leverages the power of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Earth's most advanced space telescope, to capture highly sensitive observations. By precisely measuring the light lost as the planet moves behind its star, scientists can create a brightness map across different light wavelengths, which can then be converted into a 3D temperature map. This approach has already been used to map the temperature variations of other 'hot Jupiters', a class of exoplanets that account for hundreds of the more than 6,000 exoplanets discovered so far. The study's findings not only provide valuable insights into the unique characteristics of WASP-18b but also highlight the potential of 3D eclipse mapping as a powerful tool for understanding exoplanets, offering a glimpse into the vast diversity of planets beyond our solar system.
