What's happening in this picture? [March 17, 2020 answers]

Published: 
Listen to this article
|
Published: 
Comment

Latest Articles

Companion dogs comfort Hong Kong’s seniors through new programme

Taylor Swift’s storytelling shines in The Tortured Poets Department

Glowing animals go much further back in time than we thought

SOTY 2022/23: Art runs in the family for Visual Artist second runner-up

SOTY 2022/23: Linguist (English) first runner-up loves to play devil’s advocate

Hong Kong children are taller and heavier over the last 30 years

Did you guess correctly?

In this picture, a dancing astronaut seems to be Singin’ in the Iron Rain. 

That’s because on one hot, faraway world, it’s always cloudy with a chance of iron rain. That’s the weather forecast from European astronomers who found clouds filled with iron droplets on a Jupiter-like planet, Wasp-76b, 390 light-years away from Earth. 

It’s so hot on the sunny side of this planet (2,400 degrees Celsius) that the metal iron turns to vapour. 

Scientists think this condenses and cools over the night side of the planet. As it cools it turns back to droplets of metal that fall to its surface. Since the planet’s rotation matches the time it takes to complete one orbit, the same side always faces its sun, so it’s always day on its sun side and night on the other side.

Forgot the discussion questions? Click here!

 

Sign up for the YP Teachers Newsletter
Get updates for teachers sent directly to your inbox
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Comment