Astronomers have been studying the atmospheres of faraway planets for a long time, but a detailed look at their dark sides has remained a mystery - at least until recently..

By charting the planet WASP-12b, altitude-based temperatures on the planet, and the amount of water present there, a scientific study from MIT has revealed the first precise view into Jupiter's dark side, which had previously only been hinted at. It is extremely difficult to distinguish distinctions between the dark and light sides because the faraway planet is in a condition of locked spin with respect to its parent star.

The dark side of the earth contributes to a water cycle that is always altering. At temperatures greater than 2743 degrees Celsius, water is destroyed on the dayside, but at temperatures less than 1526 degrees Celsius, water molecules are re-created on the nightside. According to Engadget, the outcome is a lightning scattering of atoms around the world at a speed of 17,703 kilometers per hour.

In addition, the planet's dark side is cold enough to support clouds comprised of iron and sandpaper, which is a unique trait for the planet (minerals found in rubies and sapphires).

The scientists discovered this odd piece of information by gathering data using spectroscopy with the assistance of the Hubble Space Telescope during the Hubble Space Telescope's orbits in 2018 and 2019.

Exoplanets' brilliant sides have been studied extensively using this method, but their dark sides have been more difficult to examine since they need the detection of minute variations in the spectral line that indicate the existence of water vapor, which has been difficult to detect. This line was essential in assisting the scientists in creating temperature maps, which the team then ran through models that assisted in predicting chemical composition.

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the investigation represents the first extensive examination of the global atmosphere of exoplanets. This complete picture should aid in the prediction of the locations of hot Jupiter-type planets such as WASP-121b, which are currently unknown. A more extensive study of the atmospheres of exoplanets will one day help us locate planets that are more habitable to humans, despite the fact that this is, obviously, an inhospitable planet.