Exploring the Atmospheres of Extreme Exoplanets.

Astronomers have discovered that the ultra-hot exoplanet WASP-76 b has an atmosphere of vaporized rock, with temperatures soaring to around 4,350 degrees Fahrenheit. The team identified 11 chemical elements in the planet's atmosphere, some of which haven't even been measured in the solar system gas giants Saturn and Jupiter yet. The abundance of elements like manganese, chromium, magnesium, vanadium, barium, and calcium match closely with the quantities found in the sun, indicating that the composition of the planet is similar to the protoplanetary disk of material that collapsed to birth it. The team also discovered that certain elements in the atmosphere of WASP-76 b appeared to be "depleted," and the planet contains a chemical compound called vanadium oxide, which can have a big impact on hot giant planets.