Click on the image for the movie
This animation shows a computer simulation of the planet HD 80606b from an
observer located at a point in space lying between the Earth and the HD
80606 system. The animation starts 2.2 days before the moment of close
approach and ends 8.9 days later. The blue areas are reflected starlight
(the blue color arises mainly from absorption by sodium and potassium in
the planetary atmosphere). Red regions are areas of the planet that are
glowing with their own intrinsic heat.
The point of closest approach—and maximum heating—occurs about
4.5 seconds into the animation. As the planet whips around the star, we
see the evolving thermal storm patterns across its unilluminated side. The
planet's transit behind its star (as would be seen from Earth four seconds
into the animation) is not shown in this simulation.
These theoretical models allow astronomers to better understand weather
patterns on distant planets. While direct telescopic observations of the
atmospheres of such worlds may be many decades away, such simulations give
us a clue to what we may see when it becomes possible.