New Analysis of WASP 107b Reveals Hotter Core and Revised Planetary Formation Theories

Photo byPhoto by NASA Hubble Space Telescope on Unsplash

For the first time, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has provided a detailed analysis of the interior of an exoplanet, specifically WASP-107b. This exoplanet, known for its low density and large, puffy appearance, has a surprisingly low methane atmosphere, indicating a hotter interior and a more massive core than previously thought.

Initial observations suggested WASP-107b had a small core surrounded by a vast hydrogen and helium envelope, challenging existing planetary formation theories. However, new data show that current models can explain the planet. The exoplanet's core is now estimated to be 12 times the mass of Earth's core, significantly larger than earlier estimates.

WASP-107b orbits its star every 5.7 days at a distance that keeps it cooler than similar gas giants, complicating explanations for its "super-puff" density. The JWST's observations revealed an atmosphere containing sulfur dioxide, water vapour, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide but surprisingly little methane. The lack of methane suggests that hot gas from the planet's interior mixes with cooler atmospheric layers, implying a much hotter core than previously understood.

The core's heat may be due to the planet's slightly elliptical orbit, causing varying gravitational stresses that heat the interior. This new understanding aligns WASP-107b with conventional planetary formation theories, eliminating the need for unusual models to explain its characteristics. Further investigation is required to fully understand the core's heat source and the planet's formation.