Recent research published in the journal Nature reveals that HD 189733 b, an exoplanet positioned 64 light years away from Earth, has an atmosphere with the smell of rotten eggs. The gas giant planet, just as big as Jupiter, has some traces of hydrogen sulfide in its atmosphere which gives it a bad smell.
HD 189733 b is referred to as hot Jupiter because it is a gas giant with very high temperatures due to its close proximity to its star. It takes just 2.2 days for the planet to complete one revolution around its star leading to average surface temperature of about 1,700F. On the other hand, such planets as Jupiter, which are part of our solar system and this means that it takes almost 12 Earth years for them to go around the sun during each revolution.
According to NASA HD 189733 b is described as “a nightmare world” and “a killer you never see coming”. The planet is not only covered by glass rain but also experiences winds which reach up to speeds of five thousand four hundred miles per hour. As NASA warns; “being caught out in the rain on this planet isn’t just an inconvenience- it’s death by a thousand cuts.”
Since it was first discovered in 2005, HD 189733 b has been extensively observed using James Webb Space Telescope.
This discovery of hydrogen sulfide being present in this exoplanet’s atmosphere also provides some new information about how sulfur can affect formation and composition of gas worlds beyond our Solar System.
“We’re not looking for life on this planet because it’s way too hot,” said Guangwei Fu who led the research at Johns Hopkins University,” but finding hydrogen sulfide here is like finding another clue for detecting this molecule on other planets.” He added: “it will enhance our knowledge concerning various types of planets formation.”
In order For researchers To gain better insight into their formation and composition, the team will continue focusing on other exoplanets with regards to sulfur.
