LTT 9779 b, an exoplanet 262 light years from Earth, always stares directly at the sun. With a surface of nearly 2000 degrees Celsius (about 3632 degrees Fahrenheit), the planet glows bright red while still reflecting starlight. Researchers have called it a rare ultra-hot Neptune.
Thanks to images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) published in Nature Astronomy, researchers are now able to see and analyze extreme weather patterns on this intriguing exoplanet, which can help them better understand its unique atmospheric properties.
Understanding LTT 9779 b — The Hot Exoplanet
A 2020 study published in Nature Astronomy first identified LTT 9779 b. The study found that the exoplanet has been tidally locked — like Earth’s moon — meaning one side has continuously faced the sun, while the other side has been in constant darkness.
