Astronomers can learn a lot about a planet using very little . In this specific face , a team of researchers was able-bodied to find out out that the sky of an exoplanet 100 light - years from Earth is naughty . The planet , which is about the size of Neptune , is the smallest on whichRayleigh scattering – the same effect responsible for the blue sky on Earth – has been discover .
The discovery was possible thanks to theLas Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope net . astronomer observed light scattering on tiny particles in the exoplanet atmosphere , and they saw that those molecules scatter blue Inner Light more .
Unfortunately , blue skies do n’t equate to an atmosphere like ours . According to the bailiwick , published in theAstrophysical Journal , the exoplanet is likely have a H / helium - reign atmosphere with high - elevation cloud and hazes . The investigator acknowledge that it ’s possible the major planet has an atmosphere robust in corpuscle such water and methane , but they are not positive that the feature film they see in thelight spectrumare substantial .
The squad is planning follow - up observations to determine the standard atmosphere ’s composition with more assurance . They design to see at the planet again using an infrared scope , which should allow them to assess if water and methane are there or not .
The planet , calledGJ 3470b , revolve a flushed dwarf half the mass of the Sun . The star has a surface temperature of about 3,300 ° C ( 6,000 ° F ) and the planet orbit around its star every three Earth days . Being so close to the star , the planet is quite red-hot and it is referred to as a warm - Neptune .
Dr Diana Dragomir , head author of the enquiry , said in astatementthat “ this detective work brings us closer to understanding the nature of progressively belittled exoplanets through the use of a new plan of attack which allows us to probe the atmospheric state of exoplanets even if they are cloudy . ”
The subject is the first high-pitched - confidence detection of an exoplanet atmosphere features using observance look at with only 1 meter ( 3.3 fundament ) and 2 meter ( 6.6 foot ) telescopes , highlight the grandness of meter - class uranology in increase our understanding of the universe .
