Skip to content
AsteriaStar
Atmosphere concept

Clouds & Hazes

Condensate clouds and photochemically produced hazes are common in exoplanet atmospheres, and they matter for observers: high-altitude aerosols mute or flatten the features in a transmission spectrum, masking the gases below. Distinguishing a genuinely cloudy atmosphere from a clear one is a central challenge of characterization.

Highlights

  • Aerosols that flatten transmission spectra and hide the gases below

Knowledge connections

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

    Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.