WASP-17b facts for kids
WASP-17b is a fascinating exoplanet. An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside our own Solar System. This special planet is found in the constellation called Scorpius. It circles a star named WASP-17. Scientists first announced its discovery on August 11, 2009.
WASP-17b was the very first planet ever found to have a retrograde orbit. This means it orbits its star in the opposite direction to how the star spins! On December 3, 2013, scientists using the amazing Hubble Space Telescope made another exciting discovery. They found water in the atmosphere of WASP-17b.
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What is WASP-17b?
WASP-17b is a type of exoplanet known as a "hot Jupiter." These are gas giant planets, much like Jupiter in our Solar System, but they orbit very close to their stars. This makes them extremely hot. WASP-17b is one of the largest exoplanets ever found. It is about twice the size of Jupiter.
Where is WASP-17b Located?
WASP-17b is located in the constellation Scorpius. A constellation is a group of stars that form a pattern in the night sky. Scorpius is one of the brightest constellations. It looks like a scorpion. You can see it best in the summer sky.
How WASP-17b Was Found
Scientists found WASP-17b using a method called the "transit method." This method looks for tiny dips in a star's brightness. These dips happen when a planet passes in front of its star, blocking a small amount of light. The discovery was made by the Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) project.
Unique Orbit of WASP-17b
One of the most exciting things about WASP-17b is its unusual orbit. Most planets orbit their stars in the same direction that the star spins. This is called a "prograde orbit." But WASP-17b does the opposite.
Understanding Retrograde Orbit
A retrograde orbit means the planet moves around its star in the opposite direction of the star's rotation. Imagine a spinning top. If a ball orbited that top in the opposite direction it was spinning, that would be a retrograde orbit. Scientists are still trying to figure out why WASP-17b has such a strange path. It might be because of a close encounter with another planet in the past.
Water in WASP-17b's Atmosphere
In 2013, the Hubble Space Telescope made a big discovery about WASP-17b. It found signs of water vapor in the planet's atmosphere. This was an important finding.
Why Water is Important
Finding water on an exoplanet is very exciting for scientists. Water is essential for life as we know it. While WASP-17b is too hot for life, finding water helps us understand how planets form and evolve. It also helps us search for other planets that might be able to support life. The water vapor in WASP-17b's atmosphere is likely in the form of steam, due to the planet's extreme heat.
Images for kids
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Comparison of "hot Jupiter" exoplanets (artist concept). From top left to lower right: WASP-12b, WASP-6b, WASP-31b, WASP-39b, HD 189733b, HAT-P-12b, WASP-17b, WASP-19b, HAT-P-1b and HD 209458b.
See also
In Spanish: WASP-17b para niños
