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What is the latest discovery in exoplanet research?

Nello Faiers

Hey there!

Did you hear about the latest discovery in exoplanet research? It's pretty exciting stuff! Apparently, astronomers have found a new exoplanet that's so hot, it's hotter than most stars! Crazy, right?

The planet, named WASP-121b, is about 900 light-years away from Earth and is located in the constellation of Puppis. It's a gas giant, about 1.2 times larger than Jupiter, and has a temperature of around 4,600 degrees Fahrenheit. To put that into perspective, the surface temperature of our sun is roughly 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit!

What's even more amazing is that this planet is so close to its host star that it completes an orbit every 1.3 days. This means that one year on WASP-121b is equivalent to just over a day on Earth! The gravitational pull of the star is so strong that it's causing the planet's atmosphere to become distorted, which is giving scientists a unique opportunity to study it.

These latest findings were made possible by the Hubble Space Telescope, which used its Wide Field Camera 3 to observe the exoplanet. By analyzing the light spectrum of the planet's atmosphere, scientists were able to determine its temperature and other key features.

This discovery opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for exoplanet research. By examining the atmospheres of these distant planets, scientists can learn more about their composition, temperature, and even their potential to support life. Who knows what other amazing discoveries might be waiting just beyond our reach?

Anyway, that's the latest in exoplanet research that I've heard about. It's pretty fascinating stuff, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for space exploration. What about you? Have you heard about any interesting developments in this field lately? Let me know in the comments!