Scientists study a 'hot Jupiter' exoplanet's dark side in detail for the first time

Astronomers have mapped the atmospheres of exoplanets for a while, but a good look at their night sides has proven elusive -- until today. An MIT-led study has provided the first detailed look at a "hot Jupiter" exoplanet's dark side by mapping WASP-121b's altitude-based temperatures and water presence levels. As the distant planet (850 light-years away) is tidally locked to its host star, the differences from the bright side couldn't be starker. The planet's dark side contributes to an extremel...