Clouds of rubies and sapphires light up

The cloud cover on the HAT-P-7 b exoplanet contains the mineral building blocks of sapphires and rubies.

1,040 light years from Earth, you will find the sparkling HAT-P-7 b exoplanet, complete with clouds of rubies and sapphires, according to astronomers, who have studied the light reflected from the planet.

The atmosphere contains the aluminium oxide mineral, also known as corundum in its crystal-line form, which forms the basis of sapphires and rubies. In 2016, scientists from the University of Warwick in the UK used the Kepler space telescope to prove that both clouds and violent storms are probably very common on the planet. The weather is caused by the “cold” night side air of about 1,900°C meeting the warmer day side air of up to 2,500°C. The temperature difference occurs, because the gas giant orbits in a close, bound rotation, meaning that the same side is always facing the hot host star.