Beautiful light displays in the sky, such as glowing halos around the moon or bright spots beside the sun, aren't just Earthly wonders. According to new research, similar dazzling effects might also occur on planets light-years away.
In a study published on July 21 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Cornell University scientists propose that WASP-17b, a gas giant roughly 1,300 light-years from Earth, could host shimmering optical effects in its atmosphere. Discovered in 2009, WASP-17b is what scientists call a "hot Jupiter," a type of gas giant that orbits very close to its star. As a result, the world experiences intense heat and hurricane-force winds that can reach up to 10,000 miles per hour (16,000 kilometers per hour).
