Salty Clouds Unveiled on the Mysterious 'Pink Planet

WHO:

FOX Weather - Scientists from Northwestern University conducted the study.

FOX Weather - Aneesh Baburaj led the study.

WHAT:

NY Post - Salt clouds were discovered surrounding the "Pink Planet."

FOX Weather - The "Pink Planet" is known as GJ 504 b.

FOX Weather - The planet is one of the coldest known celestial objects ever directly imaged.

FOX Weather - The study revealed a mix of water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and other molecules in the planet's atmosphere.

FOX Weather - Researchers found that salt clouds fit best in their atmospheric simulations.

WHERE:

FOX Weather - GJ 504 b orbits a sun-like star about 57 light years from Earth.

WHEN:

FOX Weather - The "Pink Planet" was first discovered in 2013.

FOX Weather - The study's findings were based on recent observations by the James Webb Space Telescope.

WHY:

FOX Weather - The discovery supports a theory hypothesized over 15 years ago regarding the presence of salt clouds in the planet's atmosphere.

FOX Weather - The presence of salt clouds was critical to explaining the spectrum of the object.

HOW:

FOX Weather - Researchers ran simulations with different types of clouds to analyze the planet's atmosphere.

FOX Weather - The data from the planet was obtained through observations by the James Webb Space Telescope, which provided clearer insights than ground-based instruments.

(UPDATED July 4, 2026 06:12 UTC)

Scientists from Northwestern University, led by Aneesh Baburaj, have made a fascinating discovery about the "Pink Planet," known as GJ 504 b, which is located about 57 light years from Earth. Their study revealed the presence of salt clouds in the planet's atmosphere, along with a mix of water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, supporting a theory proposed over 15 years ago. This groundbreaking research, based on recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, highlights the planet as one of the coldest known celestial objects ever directly imaged.