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Revolutionary 3D Map Reveals Secrets of WASP-18b

10/31/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers created the first three-dimensional map of WASP-18b, revealing distinct temperature zones in its atmosphere.
The planet is 400 light-years away, with a 23-hour orbit and temperatures near 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The study, published in Nature Astronomy, used 3D eclipse mapping that builds on 2D models.
They identified a hotspot where starlight is most intense, lowering water vapor due to water breakdown.
This technique could be applied to other exoplanets.

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Story summary

Astronomers created the first three-dimensional map of WASP-18b, revealing distinct temperature zones in its atmosphere.
The planet is 400 light-years away, with a 23-hour orbit and temperatures near 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The study, published in Nature Astronomy, used 3D eclipse mapping that builds on 2D models.
They identified a hotspot where starlight is most intense, lowering water vapor due to water breakdown.
This technique could be applied to other exoplanets.