Astronomers have, for the first time, deciphered the three-dimensional structure of an exoplanet's atmosphere.
The study, published in
Nature, details the atmospheric layers of WASP-121b, a hot gas giant 900 light-years away.
Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, researchers identified three distinct layers with varying chemical compositions and intense winds.
The bottom layer contains gaseous iron, the middle layer sodium with jet streams reaching 43,500 miles per hour, and the upper layer hydrogen, which is escaping into space.
Titanium was also detected in gaseous form.
WASP-121b, an ultra-hot Jupiter, orbits its star in 1.3 days and is tidally locked, with one side reaching 4,900°F (2,700°C) and the other 2,200°F (1,250°C).