Produced by: Manoj Kumar
LTT 9779 b, an ultra-hot Neptune, roasts at nearly 2,000°C, with one side in eternal daylight while the other remains in perpetual darkness—a true planet of extremes.
Credit : NASA
Despite its hellish conditions, reflective clouds on its western hemisphere bounce back starlight, making it one of the brightest exoplanets ever observed.
Credit : NASA
Supercharged winds rip across the planet, creating a dramatic east-west temperature divide, shaping its bizarre alien weather patterns.
The James Webb Space Telescope detected traces of water vapor, proving that even in extreme heat, clouds and atmospheric complexity can persist.
Led by Louis-Philippe Coulombe of Université de Montréal, scientists found that one side forms clouds, the other stays clear, defying expectations of how exoplanet climates work.
Despite its close orbit, the planet's dayside reflects an unusual amount of light, meaning heat is not distributed as expected, challenging planetary models.
Credit : NASA
By capturing spectral data over an entire orbit, JWST helped scientists map temperature, clouds, and composition, revealing a dynamic, ever-changing world.
Representative pic
LTT 9779 b exists in the “hot Neptune desert”, where planets this size shouldn’t survive—like a snowball in a fire that refuses to melt.
Representative pic
Scientists see this planet as a testing ground for extreme atmospheres, helping refine models for how planets form, evolve, and endure in extreme conditions.
Credit : NASA