
ââThe reason why no such glory has ever been observed outside our solar system is that this phenomenon requires very specific conditions, said Dr. Olivier Demangeon.
A recent study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics examines rainbow-like light patterns known as âgloriesâ between the dayside and nightside of the exoplanet, WASP-76b, which occurs from the interactions between the parent starâs light and perfectly uniform droplets within a planetâs atmosphere. This study holds the potential to help astronomers better understand exoplanet characteristics, as this marks the first time these âgloryâ patterns have been observed outside of our solar system.
Artistâs rendition of a âgloryâ on WASP-76b. (Credit: © ESA, work performed by ATG under contract for ESA. CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)
While WASP-76b was discovered in 2013, astronomers have been puzzled by its peculiar behavior along the exoplanetâs terminator, which is the separation point between the dayside and nightside. For example, astronomers have noted higher amounts of light along the east part of WASP-76b compared to the west part of the exoplanet.