A recent study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters examines a rare alloy molecule known as chromium hydride (CrH) and its first-time confirmation on an exoplanet, in this case, WASP-31 b. Traditionally, CrH is only found in large quantities between 1,200 to 2,000 degrees Kelvin (926.85 to 1,726.85 degrees Celsius/1700 to 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit) and … Continue reading 'Astronomers Confirm First Exoplanet “Thermometer Molecule” that is Typically Used to Study Brown Dwarfs'
involves using light to determine what elements might be present based on their color within the electromagnetic spectrum. For astronomy, this means using spectroscopy to study exoplanet atmospheres by measuring the parent star’s light passing through it. In the case of WASP-31 b, spectroscopy was used to measure the light from its parent star to identify CrH within WASP-31 b’s atmosphere.
“High spectral resolution means we have very precise wavelength information,” said Dr. Flagg. “We can get thousands of different lines. We combine them using various statistical methods, using a template – an approximate idea of what the spectrum looks like – and we compare it to the data, and we match it up. If it matches well, there’s a signal. We try all the different templates, and in this case the chromium hydride template produced a signal.” Dr.
While the research team states this is the first confirmed detection of CrH on an exoplanet, this research builds on awhich reported the first evidence for CrH in the atmosphere of WASP-31 b, but those researchers stopped short of calling it a confirmed finding based on their data at the time. With this new confirmation of CrH, the team notes this could open doors for using high-resolution observations for studying exoplanet atmospheres, going as far as saying WASP-31 b will not be the last exoplanet where the presence of CrH will be confirmed.
How many more exoplanets will astronomers confirm the presence of CrH throughout the cosmos, and what can CrH teach us about exoplanet atmospheres in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
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Astronomers Find a 'Thermometer Molecule' that Only Appears When a Planet is Between 1,200 and 2,000 KelvinA recent study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters examines a rare alloy molecule known as chromium hydride (CrH) and its first-time confirmation on exoplanet, WASP-31 b. Traditionally, CrH is only found in large quantities between 1,200 to 2,000 degrees Kelvin (926.85 to 1,726.85 degrees Celsius/1700 to 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit). Therefore, astronomers like Dr. Laura … Continue reading 'Astronomers Find a “Thermometer Molecule” that Only Appears When a Planet is Between 1,200 and 2,000 Kelvin'
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Scorching Neptune-size world is way too massive for astronomers to explainCharles Q. Choi is a contributing writer for Space.com and Live Science. He covers all things human origins and astronomy as well as physics, animals and general science topics. Charles has a Master of Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida. Charles has visited every continent on Earth, drinking rancid yak butter tea in Lhasa, snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos and even climbing an iceberg in Antarctica. Visit him at http://www.sciwriter.us
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