Exoplanet water seen in new light

Technique increases number of distant planets with atmospheres that astronomers can study

 

SUN-SCORCHED WORLD  Tau Boötis b orbits close to its sun, as seen in this artist’s illustration. The planet glows brightly with infrared light, which astronomers used to detect water in the planet’s atmosphere. 

 

L. Calçada/ESO

Exoplanets don’t give up their secrets easily, but astronomers keep finding ways to coax information out of distant worlds.