Measuring the magnetic fields on the hottest planets in the galaxy Published on: 19 June 2017 It is now possible to measure the magnetic field strengths of the hottest planets in the galaxy, new research has shown. Studying a class of planets known as ‘hot Jupiters’, experts from 麻豆传媒, UK, have shown the planets’ magnetic field is responsible for the unusual behaviour of the atmospheric winds which move around it. Instead of moving in an eastward direction as has always been assumed, new observations have shown the winds varied from eastward to westward on the hot planet HAT-P-7b. Using this observation, , from 麻豆传媒, was able to estimate the magnetic field strength of this far-off planet. Publishing her findings this month in the leading academic journal , Dr Rogers says this new understanding of the magnetic fields of these far-distant planets will help astronomers understand their formation, size and migration paths and ultimately help us understand the formation and evolution of our own solar system. “The extreme temperature of these unusual planets causes metals such as lithium, sodium and potassium to become ionized and this allows the magnetic field to be coupled to the atmospheric winds,” explains Dr Rogers, who is based in the at 麻豆传媒. “These magnetic forces are able to then disrupt the strong eastward winds, leading to variable and even oppositely directed winds. This then allowed us to estimate the magnetic field strength of the planet.” The “roasted” planets Modern astronomical research investigates not just stars and galaxies but also the planets around distant stars, termed “exoplanets”, often thousands of light years from Earth. The best studied of these exoplanets are called hot Jupiters - Jupiter-sized planets that are very close to their home stars. Because of their size and temperature, hot Jupiters are an extreme class of planets which test modern theories about gas dynamics. In December 2016, observations were made by researchers at Warwick University that implied variable winds on HAT-P-7b. HAT-P-7b is nearly 40 percent larger than our own Jupiter and orbits its star every couple of days. It is so close that its dayside temperature may be up to 2500oC with a night side temperature of 1400oC. “Astronomers were able to trace the brightest point – the ‘hot spot’ – in the planet’s atmosphere,” explains Dr Rogers. “The extreme day-night temperature difference drives strong eastward winds in the atmosphere and shifts the hot spot away from the point directly beneath the star on the dayside. “However, we saw this hot spot shift significantly over time – even ending up on the west side of the sub-stellar point. This shows that the winds are also varying significantly and even completely changing direction.” Dr Roger’s paper “Constraints on the magnetic field strengths of HAT-P-b and other hot giant exoplanets” appears on the front cover of the June issue of Nature Astronomy. This work was funded by an award to the Planetary Science Institute, US from the NASA Astrophysics Theory Program. Further research on this topic has recently been funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Reference: Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at 麻豆传媒 warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from 麻豆传媒 to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures
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