With temperatures of up to 1.220 °C, winds seven times faster than the speed of sound and rain of molten glass, the alien planet HD 189733 b, discovered by NASA, is a true blue hell located 64,5 light years from Earth.
A place where winds howl at unimaginable speeds and the rain is not water, but molten glass that cuts through everything in its path. This is HD 189733 b, a giant exoplanet discovered by NASA, located 64,5 light-years from Earth, which scientists have nicknamed a “nightmare world”.
What is planet HD 189733 and why is it so scary?
HD 189733 b was discovered in 2005 and is one of NASA's best-studied exoplanets. Despite its bright blue appearance reminiscent of Earth's skies, the similarities end there. This planet is 11% larger than Jupiter, has an extremely fast orbit of just 2,2 days, and challenging conditions any possibility of life.
The planet orbits so close to its parent star that its temperatures range between 919 and 1.220 °C. What's more, scientists believe it is in lockstep with its star, meaning one side is permanently facing scorching heat while the other is in perpetual darkness.
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Lethal winds and glass rain: what the weather is like on this alien world
The weather conditions on HD 189733 b are extreme. With winds reaching an impressive 8.650 km/h – seven times the speed of sound – being on the surface of this planet would be like facing an eternal hurricane. And if that weren't enough, the rain that falls there is made up of particles of molten glass that move laterally due to the force of the winds.
For NASA, “getting caught in the rain on this planet is death by a thousand cuts.” It’s such a hostile environment that it’s nicknamed the “invisible killer.” seems almost modest to describe its lethality.
The features that make HD 189733 b look like a nightmare
Despite its brutal climate, HD 189733 b is one of the few exoplanets whose atmosphere has been studied in detail. Its blue color, which deceives the human eye, comes not from oceans like those on Earth, but from a mixture of silicate clouds and high-temperature particles.
Observations made with the Spitzer and Hubble telescopes have revealed the presence of water vapor, neutral oxygen, carbon monoxide and methane in the atmosphere. The latter element, in particular, has puzzled scientists because it should react quickly with water at high temperatures, but it is still present in significant quantities.
How NASA studies exoplanets and the role of the Kepler telescope
Detecting exoplanets like HD 189733 b is a real challenge. Because they are located outside our Solar System, they are often overshadowed by the brightness of their stars. NASA's Kepler telescope was designed to identify potentially habitable planets, and its mission has already resulted in the discovery of more than 5.500 exoplanets.
The study of HD 189733 b began with its identification by the transit method, when it passed in front of its star. Since then, it has been the subject of detailed observations, which include spectroscopic analysis – a process that reveals the chemical composition of its atmosphere.
Why HD 189733 b continues to intrigue scientists
Although the conditions on HD 189733 b make life as we know it impossible, it remains a fascinating object for scientists. The presence of methane and other compounds in its atmosphere raises questions about the chemical processes that occur in such extreme conditions.
Every new piece of data about exoplanets like this helps NASA improve your technologies observation and better understand the limits of habitability on other worlds.