WASP-39b

Exoplanet in constellation of Virgo From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WASP-39b, officially named Bocaprins, is a hot Jupiter extrasolar planet discovered in February 2011[2] by the WASP project, notable for containing a substantial amount of water in its atmosphere.[1][4][5] In addition WASP-39b was the first exoplanet found to contain carbon dioxide in its atmosphere,[6][7] and likewise for sulfur dioxide.

DiscoverysiteWASP
Discoverydate2011
Transit
Bocaprins
Quick facts Discovery, Discovery site ...
WASP-39b / Bocaprins
Exoplanet WASP-39b artist's concept[1]
Discovery[2]
Discovery siteWASP
Discovery date2011
Transit
Designations
Bocaprins
Orbital characteristics[3]
0.0486 ± 0.0005 AU (7,270,000 ± 75,000 km)
Eccentricity<0.048
4.05529470(97) d
Inclination87.83+0.25
−0.22
Semi-amplitude36.9+6.0
−5.3 m/s
StarWASP-39
Physical characteristics[3]
1.27±0.04 RJ
(91000±3000 km)
Mass0.275+0.042
−0.043 MJ
Mean density
0.166+0.032
−0.029 g/cm3
    Close

    WASP-39b orbits the star WASP-39 in the constellation Virgo, about 700 light-years from Earth.[1] As part of the NameExoWorlds campaigns at the 100th anniversary of the IAU, the planet was named Bocaprins, after the beach Boca Prins [de; es] in the Arikok National Park of Aruba.

    Characteristics

    Comparison of "hot Jupiter" exoplanets, including WASP-39b (top row; 4th from left) (artist's concept).
    From top left to lower right: WASP-12b, WASP-6b, WASP-31b, WASP-39b, HD 189733b, HAT-P-12b, WASP-17b, WASP-19b, HAT-P-1b and HD 209458b.

    WASP-39b has a mass of about 0.28 times that of Jupiter and a radius about 1.27 times that of Jupiter (91,000 km).[8] It is a hot gas giant planet with a high temperature of 900 °C.[6] The exoplanet orbits very close (7 million km) to WASP-39, its host star, every 4 days.[1]

    WASP-39b is also notable for having an extremely low density, near that of WASP-17b. While WASP-17b has a density of 0.13±0.06 g/cm3, WASP-39b has a slightly higher density of 0.18±0.04 g/cm3.

    Atmospheric composition

    WASP-39b's atmospheric transmission spectrum captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) reveals first clear evidence for carbon dioxide in a planet outside the Solar System.[6]

    Hot water molecules were found in the atmosphere of WASP-39b in a 2018 study.[1] The atmospheric transmission spectra, taken by different instruments, were inconsistent as in 2021, possibly indicating a disequilibrium atmospheric chemistry.[9] High-fidelity spectra obtained by the James Webb Space Telescope in 2022 did not confirm a disequilibrium chemistry.

    WASP-39b is one of the James Webb Space Telescope's early release science targets. Sulfur dioxide was observed in this planet's atmosphere for the first time, or indeed of any planet outside of the Solar System, indicating the existence of photochemical processes in the atmosphere.[10] WASP-39b is the first exoplanet in which carbon dioxide has been detected.[6][11][7]

    Planetary transmission spectra taken in 2022 has indicated the atmosphere of WASP-39b is partially cloudy, and planet C/O ratio appears to be subsolar.[12] The spectral signature of water, carbon dioxide, sodium[13] and sulfur dioxide were also detected.[14]

    See also

    References

    Further reading

    External links

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