This distant planet has wild weather and gemstone clouds
Summary
This Shortwave episode explores Neptune’s moon Nereid, revealing it likely formed in place despite its eccentric orbit. The hosts also discuss WASP-94Ab, a hot exoplanet with diamond clouds and extreme weather patterns. Finally, they cover recent northern lights activity driven by solar storms, offering tips for viewing the aurora borealis.
Topics discussed
NPR Tiny Desk Contest Tour promotion
Spacing Out intro: Neptune, exoplanets, and auroras
Sponsors: NetSuite Next and Edward Jones
Neptune's moon Nereid: Origin and orbit mysteries
Hot Jupiter exoplanet WASP-94b: Gemstone clouds
Northern lights: Solar storms and viewing tips
Outro and production credits
Promos for It's Been a Minute and Newsmakers
Listen ad-free on Castria