Using data from the four telescopic units of the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT), a team of scientists has successfully peered into the atmosphere of an exoplanet for the first time. Moreover, the data allowed the team to create a three-dimensional map of the atmosphere.
The results showed powerful winds within the atmosphere. These winds carry elements like iron and titanium, which, in turn, create unique weather patterns throughout the atmosphere. VLT’s observations mark the first time astronomers have been able to observe the atmosphere of an exoplanet in extreme detail.