Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
LTT 9779 b orbits so close to its star that its dayside reaches a blistering 2,000°C, making it one of the most extreme exoplanets ever observed. Could any atmosphere survive such infernal heat?
Strange clouds of silicate minerals coat one side of LTT 9779 b’s dayside—while the other is bare. Astronomers suspect fierce winds sculpt this bizarre asymmetry in the planet’s atmosphere.
Locked in place, one hemisphere of LTT 9779 b is in eternal daylight while the other remains in perpetual darkness. This strange celestial dance creates dramatic temperature contrasts.
Powerful eastward winds whip around LTT 9779 b, redistributing its extreme heat. But with temperatures hotter than molten lava, can anything truly balance this planet’s chaotic weather?
Water vapor has been detected in the atmosphere of this ultra-hot Neptune. But in such an extreme environment, does this mean hope for habitability—or a clue to total atmospheric loss?
Thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers mapped the heat, clouds, and chemistry of this scorching exoplanet, offering the most detailed look yet at an ultra-hot Neptune.
LTT 9779 b races around its star in less than a day—so close that its atmosphere is being stripped away. Yet somehow, it still clings to its clouds. What’s keeping them from vanishing?
The western side of LTT 9779 b’s dayside is so reflective it bounces back significant stellar radiation, while the eastern side absorbs it. Could this odd reflectivity be the key to survival?
LTT 9779 b defies expectations, holding onto its atmosphere despite brutal conditions. This discovery challenges our understanding of how planets survive in the most hostile environments.