NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Watched a Planet Get Absolutely Scorched
Key takeaways
- There is an exoplanet out in space that is a true nightmare.
- Say hello to HD 80606 b, an exoplanet that is about four times the size of Jupiter and arguably one of the scariest planets in the universe.
- HD 80606 b has been the subject of study via NASA's James Webb Space Telescope for its interesting properties, a responsibility it took over from the Spitzer Space Telescope.
There is an exoplanet out in space that is a true nightmare. It orbits its sun once every 111 days, and its weird elliptical orbit brings it precariously close to its host sun, resulting in temperature swings of up to 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit, effectively roasting the planet every time it orbits the star.
Say hello to HD 80606 b, an exoplanet that is about four times the size of Jupiter and arguably one of the scariest planets in the universe. This planet is known as a Hot Jupiter, which is a nickname for gas planets like Jupiter that are very close to their host star, thereby making the planet extraordinarily hot.
HD 80606 b has been the subject of study via NASA's James Webb Space Telescope for its interesting properties, a responsibility it took over from the Spitzer Space Telescope. The 111-day orbit isn't anything to write home about, as some Hot Jupiters orbit their planet in just a couple of days or weeks. What makes HD 80606 b special is the highly irregular elliptical orbit that brings it shockingly close to its star before launching it back out into space.