Christine SlusserWe see clouds pretty much every time we look up, but The Hubble Space Telescope spotted an exciting discovery for the science world — those white, puffy-looking things exist on planets outside of our own solar system!
The Los Angeles Times says two teams discovered thick layers of high-altitude clouds in the atmospheres of two exoplanets. It says neither planet, named GJ 436b and GJ 1214b, are comparable to anything in our own solar system.
"GJ 436b’s surface temperature sits about a blistering 980 degrees Fahrenheit. It is 36 light-years from Earth .... GJ 1214b ... sits about 40 light-years away."
Hubble writes the clouds found are likely nothing like the ones we see on good ol' Earth, especially due to those scorching atmospheres. (Via HubbleSite)
Researchers don't know what the clouds are made of, however they could be composed of potassium chloride or zinc sulfide. (The Verge)
NBC reports the findings bring new classes of alien worlds into atmospheric study. It means the diversity of planet types occurs outside of our solar system. One astronomer said it means we may not know planet types as well as we thought.
Researchers were excited the Hubble telescope could even make such observations with such "exquisite precision."
In just four years, Hubble's precision may be improved upon when its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, launches in 2018. (Via Space.com)
