Asset Publisher

Artist's impression of the deep blue planet HD 189733b

Artist's impression of the deep blue planet HD 189733b


Date: 11 July 2013
Satellite: Hubble Space Telescope
Depicts: HD 189733b
Copyright: NASA, ESA, M. Kornmesser

This illustration shows HD 189733b, a huge gas giant that orbits very close to its host star HD 189733. The planet's atmosphere is scorching with a temperature of over 1000 degrees Celsius, and it rains glass, sideways, in howling 7000 kilometre-per-hour winds.

At a distance of 63 light-years from us, this turbulent alien world is one of the nearest exoplanets to Earth that can be seen crossing the face of its star. By observing this planet before, during, and after it disappeared behind its host star during orbit, astronomers were able to deduce that HD 189733b is a deep, azure blue - reminiscent of Earth's colour as seen from space.

Last Update: 1 September 2019
29-Mar-2024 07:05 UT

ShortUrl Portlet

Shortcut URL

https://sci.esa.int/s/w5eeEQw

Related Images

Related Videos

Caption & Press Release

Related Publications

Related Links

Documentation