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News: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observed the weather cycle of exoplanet WASP-94A b and detected rocky mineral clouds that disappear by evening.
About Hot Jupiter WASP-94A b
- WASP-94A b is an exoplanet that is almost twice as large as Jupiter but has only half its mass.
- It is also called a ‘Hot Jupiter’.
- Hot Jupiters are massive, gas-giant exoplanets similar in composition to Jupiter but with extremely short orbital periods of less than 10 days.
- Due to their close proximity to their host stars, their atmospheres reach scorching temperatures.
- Location: It is located nearly 700 light-years away in the Microscopium constellation.
- Orbital Profile: The planet orbits very close to its parent star and completes one revolution in just four days.
- Tidal Locking: The planet is tidally locked, which means its rotation is synchronized with its revolution and the same side always faces its host star.
- Key Features of WASP-94A b:
- Extreme Temperature Contrast: The day side is extremely hot, with temperatures capable of melting rock, while the night side remains permanently dark and very cold.
- Dynamic Cloud Cycle: The morning side contains clouds of magnesium silicate, iron, and magnesium sulphide, while the evening side has nearly clear skies.
- Cloud Vaporisation: When the clouds reach the day side, temperatures above 1000°C cause them to vaporise.
About Extremely Large Telescope ( ELT)
- The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is a state-of-the-art optical telescope currently under construction.
- Built by: The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is building the ELT.
- Location: The ELT is under construction on Cerro Armazones in Chile’s Atacama Desert.
- Key Features of Extremely Large Telescope:
- Optics: The telescope will contain five mirrors and optics, including a 39-metre primary mirror.
- Size: The primary mirror is made of 798 hexagonal segments, each measuring 1.5 metres across and 5 centimetres thick.
- Capabilities: The ELT will be capable of detecting and possibly imaging terrestrial planets in the habitable zones of other stars.
- Protective Dome: A giant dome will house the telescope and protect it from the extreme environment of the Atacama Desert.
