Astronomers Find a Planet Like Jupiter, but It Doesn’t Have any Clouds

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Can you picture Jupiter without any observable clouds or haze? It isn’t easy since Jupiter’s latitudinal cloud bands and its Great Red Spot are iconic visual features in our Solar System. Those features are caused by upswelling and descending gas, mostly ammonia. After Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s cloud forms are probably the most recognizable feature in the Solar System.


Now astronomers with the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) have found a planet similar in mass to Jupiter, but with a cloud-free atmosphere.


These planets are scarce, and astronomers think only about 7% of exoplanets are like this. The discovery allows scientists to study how they form. Without clouds in the way, a clearer view awaits.

Astronomers Find a Planet Like Jupiter, but It Doesn't Have any Clouds - Universe Today

Astronomers have found the first Jupiter-like exoplanet with no clouds or haze. It's an ideal object for further study with the James Webb Space Telescope.

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