The molecule chromium hydride is usually found in stars but was discovered in the atmosphere of the hot Jupiter WASP-31b, which is one of the lightest exoplanets ever seen.
The discovery of such a metal hydride — a metal bonded to hydrogen to form a new compound — in the atmosphere of an alien planet could allow scientists to gauge the temperatures of worlds outside the"Chromium hydride molecules are very temperature sensitive," research lead author Laura Flagg, a research associate at Cornell University in New York,
This proximity to the host star, called WASP-17, causes extreme temperatures on the hot Jupiter of around 2,060 degrees Fahrenheit , as confirmed by Flagg and her team. That temperature is just right to host chromium hydride molecules. By comparison, a marshmallow has a density of 0.21 grams per cubic centimeter. So WASP-17b, one of the lightest exoplanets ever discovered, is actually less dense than a marshmallow. The team of astronomers spotted chromium hydride in the atmosphere of WASP-17b while using high-resolution spectroscopy. Elements and chemical compounds absorb light at specific wavelengths, leaving their characteristic fingerprints in the spectra of light coming from a star, which can be assessed with spectroscopy.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Thermometer' molecule confirmed on exoplanet WASP-31bChromium hydride (CrH), a molecule that's relatively rare and particularly sensitive to temperature, is useful as a 'thermometer for stars,' according to astronomer Laura Flagg, because it's abundant only in a narrow range between 1,200–2,000 degrees Kelvin.
Read more »
How the JUICE mission will look for habitability on Jupiter's moonsESA’s JUICE mission will help us better understand whether Jupiter’s icy moons are habitable. But we need to be open to their unexpected secrets, says principal investigator Michele Dougherty
Read more »
The Boys Season 4's 'Bizarre' Homelander Tease Is Exciting & Worrying For The Same ReasonThe Boys S4's Homelander tease may harm the series
Read more »
Ti West Believed 'The House of the Devil' Set Was Haunted, So He Made a Movie About ItThe acclaimed horror director and his crew experienced bizarre paranormal activity in a hotel in Connecticut.
Read more »
I Was Never Cool in High School. Then My Mom Died.To cope, I adopted a bizarre identity that gave me an unexpected reputation.
Read more »