Earth has its fair share of extreme weather, but nothing compares to what’s happening on some exoplanets! Scientists have discovered a planet where it rains molten glass—and the wind is so strong, it blows sideways at thousands of miles per hour! 😱
Meet HD 189733b: The Planet of Glass Storms
Located 63 light-years away from Earth, this gas giant, called HD 189733b, is about the size of Jupiter. But it’s nothing like the planets in our solar system!
🌡 Surface temperature? Over 1,700°F (927°C)!
🌬 Winds? Blowing at a mind-blowing 5,400 mph (8,700 km/h)!
🌧 Rain? Tiny shards of molten glass!
Why Does It Rain Glass?
HD 189733b’s deep blue color makes it look calm—like a peaceful ocean world. But don’t be fooled!
🔵 Its blue hue comes from silicate particles in its atmosphere.
🔥 These silicates turn into molten glass due to the planet’s extreme heat.
🌪 The insane 5,400 mph winds whip the glass through the air, turning every storm into a deadly sideways glass shower!
To put that in perspective—hurricane winds on Earth max out at around 200 mph (322 km/h). Now imagine winds 27 times stronger carrying molten glass!
Other Insane Exoplanet Weather
🌍 55 Cancri e: A planet covered in lava oceans, where temperatures can reach 4,400°F (2,400°C).
🪐 WASP-12b: A planet that’s being eaten by its own star—and will be completely gone in a few million years!
❄ OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb: A frozen super-Earth with surface temperatures of -364°F (-220°C).
Final Fun Fact: Earth’s Weather is Pretty Mild!
After reading about planets where it rains glass, oceans are made of lava, or entire worlds freeze solid, Earth seems like a pretty great place to live! Would you ever visit an extreme planet like this? 🚀🔥
Mind-Blown? 🤯
Tag a friend who loves space and let them know about the wildest weather in the universe!
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