Distant gas giant planets appear drier than expected

Nature : In their study of three exoplanets some 60–870 light-years from Earth, researchers say the planets appear to be much drier than expected. They belong to a group of planets called “hot Jupiters,” which typically form in water-rich areas of solar systems. But based on Hubble Space Telescope observations of the atmospheres of exoplanets HD 189733b, HD 209458b and WASP-12b, the researchers say all three are drier than Jupiter itself. Information about the exoplanets’ atmospheres was gleaned from observations of the spectrum of IR light created as each planet crossed in front of its sun. Other researchers disagree with the findings, however. They say high-altitude clouds could have affected the results by obscuring the view. The issue may not be resolved until higher-resolution data are available from the James Webb Space Telescope or other next-generation equipment.