A 14-inch cubesat, known as CUTE, has been studying the atmospheres of "hot Jupiter" exoplanets as they transit their stars. The satellite has detected variations in how quickly these gas giant planets are evaporating into space. While some of these planets are losing their atmospheres quickly, others seem to be holding on more firmly. Scientists are not yet sure why this is the case, but they suspect it may be due to a combination of the planet's gravitational strength and the amount of activity on the star that controls the intensity of the radiation. CUTE has studied seven hot Jupiters so far and will continue to do so until its mission ends in 2027. Beyond studying hot Jupiters, the mission may also help astronomers better understand smaller worlds. The findings from CUTE were presented at the 2023 meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.
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In The News:
'14-inch spacecraft delivers new details about 'hot Jupiters' | CU Boulder Today | University of ... Artist's depiction of KELT-9b, a hot Jupiter planet orbiting a star roughly 670 light-years from Earth and a scientific target of the CUTE spacecraft. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
A spacecraft the size of a cereal box has collected precise measurements of the atmospheres of large and puffy planets called "hot Jupiters." The findings, led by a team from CU Boulder, could help reveal how the atmospheres around these and a host of other worlds are escaping into space.
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No Time To Read? Here's The Breakdown:
CUTE, a 14-inch cubesat, has been studying the atmospheres of "hot Jupiter" exoplanets as they transit their stars.• The satellite has detected variations in how quickly these gas giant planets are evaporating into space.
• While some of these planets are losing their atmospheres quickly, others seem to be holding on more firmly.
• Scientists are not yet sure why this is the case, but they suspect it may be due to a combination of the planet's gravitational strength and the amount of activity on the star that controls the intensity of the radiation.
• CUTE has studied seven hot Jupiters so far and will continue to do so until its mission ends in 2027.
• Beyond studying hot Jupiters, the mission may also help astronomers better understand smaller worlds.
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