TrES-2b is a Jupiter-sized planet located about 750 light-years from Earth. It reflects just 1% of the sunlight that reaches it, making it essentially one vast black sphere. In fact, it's darker than just about any substance found on Earth.
its atmosphere is apparently composed entirely of light-absorbing chemicals, including some mix of vaporized sodium, potassium, and gaseous titanium oxide. Even then, astronomers are at something of a loss to fully explain the tremendous blackness of this strange planet.
and hahaha...
Quote:
I think it best to quote the Astronomer Royal, Sir Nigel Tufnel, who said of this strange world, "It's like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black."
0 Replies
ryoung
1
Reply
Thu 11 Aug, 2011 09:39 pm
@tsarstepan,
It's amazing they could even detect it, or see the glow. Very Cool.
I don't think they detect planets, at that distance, by the reflection of light. Rather, they are detected when they pass in front of their star, or by the wobble effect of their gravity.
0 Replies
rosborne979
1
Reply
Sat 13 Aug, 2011 04:56 am
@tsarstepan,
The article wrote:
That isn't the case for TrES-2b, which is located just three million miles from its star. This heats the planet to nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which rules out such clouds. Instead, its atmosphere is apparently composed entirely of light-absorbing chemicals, including some mix of vaporized sodium, potassium, and gaseous titanium oxide. Even then, astronomers are at something of a loss to fully explain the tremendous blackness of this strange planet.
I bet the atmosphere is stratified into chemical layers, some combination of which serves to allow light in, but then block it from getting back out. There might even be crystals in one of the layers which redirects light back toward the planet.
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace