University of Montreal
Around the world in less than two days: observing the spectral phase curve of an ultra-hot Jupiter with JWST/NIRSpec — Using the NIRSpec instrument on the JWST, this project will be monitoring the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-76b as it completes a full orbit around its host star to paint an accurate picture of the atmosphere's chemical composition. Ultra-hot Jupiters like WASP-76b feature extreme temperature differences between their permanent day and night sides, which makes the interpretation of observations more complicated. To address this, the planet's full 3D temperature structure and cloud cover will be measured. This will provide a detailed understanding of WASP-76b's atmospheric chemistry and its formation history – ultimately shedding light on the question why ultra-hot Jupiters exist at all.