Source: NASA Science Casts







Source: ESA/Hubble Science Release heic1209
Stellar flare hits HD 189733b (artist's impression) .
Image credits: NASA, ESA, L. Calçada
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have seen dramatic changes in the upper atmosphere of a faraway planet. Just after a violent flare on its parent star bathed it in intense X-ray radiation, the planet’s atmosphere gave off a powerful burst of evaporation. The observations give a tantalising glimpse of the changing climates and weather on planets outside our Solar System.(read more)