JWST delivers first 3D atmospheric map of hot‑Jupiter WASP‑18b, revealing zone hot enough to break water

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have produced the first three‑dimensional map of an exoplanet atmosphere — WASP‑18b, a hot Jupiter ~325 light‑years away — revealing temperature zones and a dayside region hot enough to break apart water vapor.

Discovered 2025-10-28T12:20:43.656670-07:00 | 2025-10-28T12:20:43.656670-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • Demonstrates JWST can resolve three‑dimensional atmospheric structure and thermal gradients for exoplanets, building on its recent atmospheric spectra work for TRAPPIST‑1e: https://hype.aero/?story=0fe4adb4-7ffd-4a36-93bc-59c8e046a241
  • Extends JWST’s characterization reach from circumplanetary and disk studies to detailed planetary atmospheres, complementing its measurement of a carbon‑rich circumplanetary disk around CT Cha b: https://hype.aero/?story=992b7066-3287-4d95-8862-c5dcb150bb38
  • Provides concrete measurements — WASP‑18b is ~325 light‑years away and shows dayside temperatures sufficient to thermally dissociate water — data that will inform target selection and atmospheric modeling for future missions and instruments: https://hype.aero/?story=ef9a3a79-02c8-440f-951e-d786da8b7664

Reported By

news.ssbcrack.com miragenews.com Science Daily Universe Today orbitaltoday.com Moneycontrol.com
Sources Tracked
11
First Seen
2025-10-28T12:20:43.656670-07:00
Latest Update
2025-11-02T07:24:30.779081-08:00
Coverage
Space

Sources

Hype groups these reports into one evolving story so you can compare coverage without losing the thread.

Related Coverage