Skip to primary navigationSkip to main contentSkip to footer
Lester Martin logo
  • Engagement
    • Shop Complete Rings
    • Find Your Diamond
    • Start With the Ring Setting
    • Diamond Education
  • Collections
    • 302
    • Alisa
    • Ashi
    • Dugout Mugs
    • Barbela Design
    • Bassali
    • Chisel
    • Citizen
    • Cosi Bella Coins
    • Dilamani
    • Elysium
    • Ever & Ever
    • Fingerprint Jewelry
    • Hidalgo
    • La Vie
    • Lafonn
    • Leslie's
    • Lester Martin Collection
    • Meira T.
    • Lightning Ridge Opal
    • Mova Globes
    • Reflection Beads
    • Religious Collection
    • Rembrandt Charms
    • Roger Dery Gem Design
    • Romance Diamond
    • Royal Chain
    • Shardz
    • Stuller
  • Jewelry
    • LMJ Deals and Steals
    • Engagement
        Complete Diamond Engagement RingsSemi-mount Diamond Engagement RingsAnniversary Bands
    • Wedding Bands
        Diamond Wedding BandsGemstone Wedding BandsGold Wedding BandsAlternative Metal Rings
    • Pendants
        Diamond PendantsGemstone PendantsGold PendantsSilver PendantsReligious Pendants
    • Charms and Charm Bracelets
        CharmsCharm Bracelets
    • Earrings
        Diamond EarringsGemstone EarringsPearl EarringsGold EarringsSilver EarringsPiercing Earrings
    • Necklaces
        Diamond NecklacesGemstone NecklacesPearl NecklacesGold NecklacesSilver NecklacesFamily NecklacesReligious Necklaces
    • Chains
    • Rings
        Diamond Fashion RingsGemstone Fashion RingsPearl RingsGold Fashion RingsSilver Fashion RingsFamily Rings
    • Bracelets
        Diamond BraceletsGemstone BraceletsPearl BraceletsGold BraceletsSilver BraceletsAnkletsFamily BraceletsReligious BraceletsBangle BraceletsChain Bracelets
    • Estate Jewelry
    • Giftware
        CrystalGold Dipped Roses
    • Men's Section
        Men's NecklacesMen's ShavingMen's BraceletsMen's AccessoriesClasps
    • Watches
        Women's WatchesMen's WatchesUnisex WatchesWatch Bands
    • Accessories
        Cleaning SuppliesWomen's Accessories
    • Eternity Bands
  • Education
    • Jewelry Education
    • Diamond Education
      • The Four Cs of Diamonds
      • Diamond Buying Tips
    • Choosing The Right Setting
    • Learn About Gemstones
      • Birthstone Guide
      • Gemstone Guide
    • Precious Metals
    • Jewelry Care
      • Caring for Fine Jewelry
      • Diamond Cleaning
      • Gemstone Cleaning
    • Anniversary Guide
    • Gold Buying Guide
  • About
    • About Us
    • Events
    • Our Blog
    • Diamonds Do Good
    • Services
    • Testimonials
    • Jewelry Insurance
  • Contact
  • AccountToggle My Account Menu
    Forgot Password?

    Don't have an account? Sign up now

  • SearchToggle Search Menu
  • Wish ListToggle My Wishlist

    You have no items in your wish list.

    Browse
  • Bag (0)Toggle Shopping Cart Menu
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Rubies, Sapphires Are Raining Down on Scorched Exoplanet WASP-121b

Rubies, Sapphires Are Raining Down on Scorched Exoplanet WASP-121b

Published: Jan 15, 2024
Rubies, Sapphires Are Raining Down on Scorched Exoplanet WASP-121b
Author: 
LMJ Blog Team

As a record-breaking Arctic blast blankets the US heartland with ice and snow, it's raining liquid sapphires and rubies on the heavy metal exoplanet called WASP-121b, where temperatures regularly soar to 4,700 degrees Celsius (8,492 degrees Fahrenheit).

A team of astronomers led by European Space Agency research fellow Quentin Changeat analyzed three years of data collected by the Hubble Space Telescope and concluded that WASP-121b's turbulent atmosphere provides a perfect environment for precious stone precipitation.

Located 880 light-years from Earth in the constellation Puppis, the exoplanet WASP-121b is so close to its host star that it can complete its orbit in just 30 hours. Because it is tidally locked, the day side of the exoplanet always faces the blazing hot star and the night side (730 degrees Celsius, 1,346 degrees Fahrenheit) always faces out into space.

The extreme 4,000-degree temperature difference between the two hemispheres gives rise to strong winds that sweep around the entire planet from west to east at 18,000 kilometers per hour. The winds blow vaporized metals from WASP-121b’s torched dayside to its relatively cooler (but still brutally hot) nightside. The temperature change allows the metals to condense into clouds, resulting in rain that might look like liquified iron and gemstones.

The three-year deep dive into the archival weather data enabled Changeat's team to reconstruct WASP-121b's changing atmosphere and weather in a way that had never been accomplished for a planet outside the solar system, according to advancedsciencenews.com.

“Those supercomputer models helped discover a new storm-generation mechanism where multiple cyclones are repeatedly generated and destroyed,” Changeat told the science website.

According to NASA, WASP-121b is a doomed exoplanet. It's nearly twice the size of Jupiter, but is orbiting so close to its parent star that it is literally being torn apart. Gravity causes enormous tidal forces, which are stretching the planet into the shape of an egg. The star’s gravity also pulls material off the planet into a disk around the star. In 10 million years, predicts NASA, this alien world could be completely consumed.

“We were surprised by how extreme the conditions on ultra-hot Jupiters can be,” Changeat told advancedsciencenews.com. “While storms and other extreme phenomena are common on the Earth and solar system planets, it is much more impressive on ultra-hot Jupiters where storms the size of the Earth can easily be generated.”

Credit: Illustration by NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Categories
  • Previous Article
  • Next Article
Lester Martin Address
Lester Martin Jewelers
1650 Limekiln Pike B27
Dreshertown Plaza
Dresher, PA 19025
(267) 470-4771
ValentinesW
CLOSED: Fri & Sat 7/4 & 7/5.
Store Information
Store Hours

Tuesday - By Appointment Only

Mon - Tues:Closed
Wed - Fri:10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday:10:00am - 3:00pm
Sunday:Closed
Jewelry
  • LMJ Deals and Steals
  • Engagement
  • Wedding Bands
  • Pendants
  • Charms and Charm Bracelets
  • Earrings
  • Necklaces
  • Chains
  • Rings
  • Bracelets
  • Estate Jewelry
  • Giftware
  • Men's Section
  • Watches
  • Accessories
  • Eternity Bands
Collections
  • 302
  • Alisa
  • Stocking Stuffers. Most Items Below $75
  • Ashi
  • Dugout Mugs
  • Barbela Design
  • Bassali
  • Chisel
  • Citizen
  • Cosi Bella Coins
  • Dilamani
  • Elysium
  • Ever & Ever
  • Fingerprint Jewelry
  • Hidalgo
  • La Vie
  • Lafonn
  • Leslie's
  • Lester Martin Collection
  • Meira T.
  • Lightning Ridge Opal
  • Men's Shaving
  • Mova Globes
  • Reflection Beads
  • Religious Collection
  • Rembrandt Charms
  • Roger Dery Gem Design
  • Romance Diamond
  • Royal Chain
  • Shardz
  • Stuller
  • Valentine's Day Gifts
Our Store
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Services
  • Privacy Policy
  • Return Policy
Mailing List

Sign up for special offers and discounts

© 2025 Lester Martin. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.

Learn how we use cookies in our Privacy Policy or manage cookie preferences.