Planet with Fastest Winds in the Universe Has Earth-Like Weather System

London: Scientists have made an exciting discovery about a planet called WASP-127b. It’s located 500 light years away and has the fastest winds ever recorded. These winds whip around the planet at a staggering 30,000 kilometers per hour. That’s over 15 times faster than Neptune, which used to hold the record in our solar system.

WASP-127b is a gas giant, a bit larger than Jupiter but much lighter. It’s tidally locked, meaning one side always faces its star. Researchers, including Fei Yan from the University of Science and Technology in China, found that this planet has complex weather patterns, much like Earth.

The winds on WASP-127b are incredibly fast, reaching speeds of 7.5 to 7.9 kilometers per second. This makes them faster than any hurricane or jet stream we know. Lisa Nortmann, an astrophysicist at the University of Göttingen, explained that parts of the atmosphere are moving towards us while others are moving away at the same speed.

Using advanced instruments, scientists measured the gases on WASP-127b. They found that temperatures can vary wildly between day and night, possibly by hundreds of degrees. This research helps us understand how planets form and change over time, giving us insights into our own solar system. It’s a fascinating glimpse into a world that’s both extreme and similar to our own.