Saturday, 17 October 2026 Updated 34 min ago
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James Webb reveals a strange bulge in an alien planet's atmosphere

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered that a distant alien planet's atmosphere is surprisingly lopsided.

ScienceDaily reports: Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered that a distant alien planet's atmosphere is surprisingly lopsided.

Located 1,300 light-years away, the scorching gas giant WASP-17b experiences powerful winds that redistribute heat, causing one side of its atmosphere to bulge outward. A groundbreaking new mapping technique revealed these hidden distortions, confirming predictions about how extreme temperatures and winds shape alien worlds.

This science story centres on the United States. Names and organisations mentioned in the coverage include James Webb, James Webb Space Telescope and WASP-.

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Key details

Location
United States · Americas
Reported by
ScienceDaily
First reported
Key names
James Webb, James Webb Space Telescope, WASP-
Section
Science

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