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First Map of an Extrasolar Planet

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the google-not-earth dept.

jiawen writes "Data from the Spitzer Space Telescope has been used by researchers to make the first-ever map of an extrasolar planet. It's a weather map, more precisely, showing temperature variations over the surface of a Hot Jupiter. It really is hot: even the coldest regions are about 1200 degrees F."

6 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. 1200 degrees F? by PontifexPrimus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, how much is that in real temperature? Like, 35 degrees C or something?

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  2. Interesting in a way i suppose by Timesprout · · Score: 1, Insightful

    but seriously. It orbits very close to its sun so is anyone surprised the damn thing is really hot?

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  3. Amazing that this is possible at all by Phrogman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It doesn't seem all that long ago that scientists were merely *inferring* the presence of planets in other solar systems, now we are able to derive a map of one from IR data? Thats an amazing amount of progress for so short a time period. It would be interesting to know how far away this system is, and how large the planet is. If that data was in the article I seem to have missed it...

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  4. Re:Whoa, whoa whoa! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    IF you had bothered to RTFA, you'd have known that the side nearest the star isn't quite the hottest. The hotspot is offset slightly; the theory being that there's a very strong circulation of atmosphere going on.

    The wonder isn't that they've found out that one side is hotter than the other, as per your snide comment, but that they can estimate the temperatures of both sides closely, and even locate where the hottest spot is, and do it over interstellar distances. I think that's worth the "kajillion" dollars.

  5. I'm confused by bill_of_wrongs · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Looking at the map it seems like the polar regions are the coolest. If that is so and the planet is tidal locked shouldn't the far side be cooler ?

  6. Re:but can I view it by H3g3m0n · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Its not exactly a real map, its just a really basic heat map, having the ability to zoom in and such isn't really going to be much of an improvement over viewing the jpeg http://ipac.jpl.nasa.gov/media_images/ssc2007-09a_ medium.jpg Even if it was more than a heat map. the planet doesn't even have anything mappable, its a gas giant so its continuously changing (although maybe there would be some more permanent features like the great red spot on Jupiter). I imagine the Google landmarks for it would consist of "(A) The hot bit.", at leas on Mars and the Moon there are some craters etc... Having other planets on Google maps would be nice, but there aren't any maps of any of them yet :(

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