On January 21, 2025, astronomers reported the discovery of unprecedented wind speeds on the exoplanet WASP-127b, located approximately 500 light-years from Earth. Utilizing the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, a team of researchers detected winds reaching 33,000 km/h, making it the fastest wind ever recorded on a planet.
The findings, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, indicate that part of WASP-127b's atmosphere moves towards Earth at high velocity, while another segment moves away at the same speed. This phenomenon reveals a supersonic jet stream encircling the planet's equator.
Lisa Nortmann, a scientist at the University of Göttingen and lead author of the study, emphasized the significance of the discovery, stating, "We have never seen anything like this before. The wind is nearly six times faster than the planet's rotation." The research also noted that the planet exhibits complex weather patterns, similar to those found on Earth.
WASP-127b is a gas giant slightly larger than Jupiter but with a significantly lower mass, which contributes to its inflated appearance. The study confirmed the presence of water vapor and carbon monoxide in its atmosphere through spectral analysis.
The team utilized the CRIRES+ instrument to analyze the light from the host star as it passed through WASP-127b's upper atmosphere, allowing them to map the weather and atmospheric composition. This advancement in exoplanet research marks a significant shift from merely measuring planetary masses and radii to mapping weather patterns on distant worlds.