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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."

2 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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    -- Language is a virus from outer space.
  2. 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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    "The first time I got drunk, I got married. The second time I bought a chimpanzee, after that I stayed sober" Arian Seid