Cloud Atlas for Exoplanets

An international team comprising astronomers from the US, Canada and the UK has developed a cloud atlas- a model that predicts which of the many types of proposed clouds to expect on hot Jupiters- gas giant planets situated very close to their host stars and having short orbital periods of less than 10 days.

The Cloud Model

• The wavelengths of light that are absorbed, revealed by spectroscopic measurements, help astronomers ascertain the elements that make up the atmosphere of the planets.
• The study made use of the advancements in the field of exoplanet atmospheres over the past decade, particularly the measurements ....