Rare 'Thermometer Molecule' Detected on Exoplanet WASP-31b

Astronomers have discovered the rare "thermometer molecule" chromium hydride in the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-17b, which orbits an F-type star located 1,250 light-years from Earth. Chromium hydride is temperature-sensitive and is abundant in a specific temperature range. This discovery could allow scientists to measure the temperatures of exoplanets in a new way. WASP-17b is an extreme exoplanet located very close to its parent star, causing extreme temperatures and causing its atmosphere to "puff out." The researchers used high-resolution spectroscopy to detect the chromium hydride in the planet's atmosphere and hope to find more metal hydrides in the atmospheres of other exoplanets.