Astronomers catch a glimpse of a uniquely inflated and asymmetric exoplanet | Science & Technology

The findings are published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

“This is the first time the east-west asymmetry of any exoplanet has ever been observed as it transits its star, from space,” said lead study author Matthew Murphy, a graduate student at the U of A Steward Observatory. A transit is when a planet passes in front of its star — like the moon does during a solar eclipse.

“I think observations made from space have a lot of different advantages versus observations that are made from the ground,” Murphy said.

East-west asymmetry of an exoplanet refers to differences in atmospheric characteristics, such as temperature or cloud properties, observed between the eastern and western hemispheres of the planet. Determining whether this asymmetry exists or not is crucial for understanding the climate, atmospheric dynamics and weather patterns of exoplanets — planets that exist beyond our solar system.

The exoplanet WASP-107b is tidally locked to its star. That means that the exoplanet always shows the same face to the star it is orbiting. One hemisphere of the tidally locked exoplanet perpetually faces the star it orbits, while the other hemisphere always faces away, resulting in a permanent day side and a permanent night side of the exoplanet.

Murphy and his team used the transmission spectroscopy technique with the James Webb Space Telescope. This is the primary tool that astronomers use to gain insights into what makes up the atmospheres of other planets, Murphy said. The telescope took a series of snapshots as the planet passed in front of its host…