Swiss Astronomers Map Extreme Weather on Distant Planet

University of Geneva researchers discover unprecedented 70,000 km/h winds and metallic clouds on exoplanet Wasp-121b, challenging existing climate models.

Key Takeaways

Winds on exoplanet Wasp-121b reach speeds of up to 70,000 kilometers per hour.
The planet features clouds made of vaporized metal, specifically iron.
Current theoretical climate models failed to predict the atmospheric behavior of Wasp-121b.
The study utilized four telescopes from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT).
Wasp-121b is located approximately 900 light years from Earth.

By The Numbers

70,000 km/h

Wind Speed

900

Light Years

Telescopes

They Said

"It feels like we’re in a science fiction movie."
— Julia Victoria Seidel

"Theoretical models had predicted exactly the opposite, namely the reversal of the position of these two layers."
— Julia Victoria Seidel

Hellscape Revealed: 70,000 km/h Winds Shatter Records

Swiss Precision: Mapping the Impossible

Model Breaker: Defying the Laws of Physics

Iron Rain: A Science Fiction Reality

Sources & References

Extreme exoplanet climate surprises Swiss researchers

SWI swissinfo.ch

Key Takeaways

Winds on exoplanet Wasp-121b reach speeds of up to 70,000 kilometers per hour.
The planet features clouds made of vaporized metal, specifically iron.
Current theoretical climate models failed to predict the atmospheric behavior of Wasp-121b.
The study utilized four telescopes from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT).
Wasp-121b is located approximately 900 light years from Earth.