JWST Observations Show Cloudy Mornings and Clear Evenings on Exoplanet

The observations indicate that the planet's atmosphere contains condensation-driven aerosols that form on the cooler morning side, circulate, and dissipate on the warmer evening side.

The findings, published in Science, show that extreme temperature contrasts drive the aerosol behavior. Clouds condense where temperatures are lower, then evaporate as they move into hotter regions, creating the observed morning cloud cover and evening clarity.

The study concludes that these processes dominate the planet's atmospheric aerosol distribution. Data from multiple JWST transits allowed researchers to separate the morning and evening spectra and confirm the pattern. No individual researchers or institutions are named in the report.