The article I read was titled, "Hubble observes pitch black planet". In the article the scientists discovered that the Exoplanet called WASP-12b reflects almost no light, making it seem almost entirely pitch black. Astronomers from McGill University, Canada, and the University of Exeter, UK, have measured how much light WASP-12b reflects- its albedo- using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
WASP-12b's albedo measured in at 0.064. This amount of light is extremely low. The planet is darker than freshly laid asphalt. The Exoplanet is two times less reflective than our own moon, which has an albedo of 0.12.
WASP-12b orbits a sun like star named WASP-12A, which is about 1400 light years away. The Exoplanet's radius is almost twice the size of Jupiter and has a year of over just one earth day. WASP-12b is categorized as a hot Jupiter. Because it is so close to its parent star, WASP-12b has been stretched into an egg shape and its surface temperature is 2600 degrees Celsius. Astronomers think the planet's low albedo is caused by the …show more content…
After the albedo was measured the scientists compared it to its spectral models of previously suggested atmospheric models of WASP-12b. They found that the data didn’t match either of the two currently proposed models. The new data indicated that the atmosphere of WASP-12b is made of atomic hydrogen and helium. WASP-12b is only the second planet to have spectrally resolved albedo measurements. The data let the scientists determine whether the planet reflects more light towards the blue or the red end of the spectrum. WASP-12 emits light because of its heat giving it a red glow, like hot
WASP-12b's albedo measured in at 0.064. This amount of light is extremely low. The planet is darker than freshly laid asphalt. The Exoplanet is two times less reflective than our own moon, which has an albedo of 0.12.
WASP-12b orbits a sun like star named WASP-12A, which is about 1400 light years away. The Exoplanet's radius is almost twice the size of Jupiter and has a year of over just one earth day. WASP-12b is categorized as a hot Jupiter. Because it is so close to its parent star, WASP-12b has been stretched into an egg shape and its surface temperature is 2600 degrees Celsius. Astronomers think the planet's low albedo is caused by the …show more content…
After the albedo was measured the scientists compared it to its spectral models of previously suggested atmospheric models of WASP-12b. They found that the data didn’t match either of the two currently proposed models. The new data indicated that the atmosphere of WASP-12b is made of atomic hydrogen and helium. WASP-12b is only the second planet to have spectrally resolved albedo measurements. The data let the scientists determine whether the planet reflects more light towards the blue or the red end of the spectrum. WASP-12 emits light because of its heat giving it a red glow, like hot