Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

First 3D Temperature Map Reveals WASP-18b's Extreme Heat

11/6/2025

34 6

Summary

Story summary

Scientists have produced the first 3D temperature map of the ultra-hot exoplanet WASP-18b.
WASP-18b lies about 400 light-years from Earth.
The map uses data from the James Webb Space Telescope and the eclipse mapping technique.
The map reveals extreme heat zones, including a hotspot facing its star, where temperatures reach nearly 5,000°F.
The findings were published in Nature Astronomy.

1 of 1

Story summary

Scientists have produced the first 3D temperature map of the ultra-hot exoplanet WASP-18b.
WASP-18b lies about 400 light-years from Earth.
The map uses data from the James Webb Space Telescope and the eclipse mapping technique.
The map reveals extreme heat zones, including a hotspot facing its star, where temperatures reach nearly 5,000°F.
The findings were published in Nature Astronomy.