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(617) 495-7462
Christine Pulliam
(617) 495-7463
pubaffairs@cfa
Release No.: 2011-20For Release: Thursday, July 21, 2011
Exoplanet Aurora: An Out-of-this-World Sight
Exoplanet Aurora: An Out-of-this-World Sight
This artist's conception shows a "hot Jupiter" and its two hypothetical moons with a sunlike star in the background. The planet is cloaked in brilliant aurorae
triggered by the impact of a coronal mass ejection. Theoretical calculations
suggest that those aurorae could be 100-1000 times brighter than Earth's.
Credit: David A. Aguilar (CfA)
High Resolution Image (jpg)
Credit: David A. Aguilar (CfA)
High Resolution Image (jpg)
In this animation, stunning aurorae ripple around a "hot Jupiter." When a
stellar eruption known as a coronal mass ejection hit the planet, it
triggered these aurorae, which are the planetary equivalent of Earth's
Northern and Southern Lights. However, this exoplanet's aurorae shine up to
a thousand times brighter than Earth's, and extend from the equator to the
poles. Animation created by Hyperspective Studios.
Credit: CfA
Animation (mov)
Credit: CfA
Animation (mov)
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