Quartz Crystals Found in Atmosphere of Hot Jupiter Exoplanet
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has detected evidence of quartz nanocrystals in the high-altitude clouds of the hot Jupiter exoplanet WASP-17 b, marking the first time silica particles have been spotted in an exoplanet atmosphere. The discovery provides new insights into how exoplanet clouds form and evolve, as well as the composition of exoplanet atmospheres. The quartz crystals, which are about 10 nanometers across, are formed directly from gas in the extreme conditions of the exoplanet's atmosphere. Understanding the composition of exoplanet clouds is crucial for understanding the overall environment of these distant worlds.