Hallelujah, it’s raining… METAL?!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
Astronomers have discovered an ultra-hot, distant planet called WASP-76b, where daytime temperatures are hot enough to vaporize metals. Ouch!
David Ehrenreich and team at the University of Geneva analyzed starlight filtering through the planet’s atmosphere.
Using detailed light measurements, the team detected iron — but only on one side. Iron vapor appeared on the scorching evening side, then vanished on the cooler morning side.
The reason? Powerful winds carry iron gas from the hot dayside to the cool nightside, where it condenses and falls. This planet runs on HEAVY weather.
So WASP-76b’s IRON RAIN is pretty metal right? Me? I prefer Iron Maiden.
Reference: Ehrenreich, D., Lovis, C., Allart, R. et al. Nightside condensation of iron in an ultrahot giant exoplanet. Nature 580, 597–601 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2107-1