A Hot Encounter: The Fiery Fate of WASP-12b
A distant and scorching exoplanet, known as WASP-12b, is hurtling towards its demise in a fiery crash with its parent star, according to new research. Astronomers have long predicted the…
WASP-12b is an exoplanet located approximately 870 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Auriga. It was discovered in 2008 as part of the Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) program. WASP-12b is classified as a “hot Jupiter,” a type of gas giant that orbits very close to its host star, resulting in extremely high surface temperatures. This planet has a notably eccentric orbit and is one of the darkest exoplanets known, reflecting very little light. Its close proximity to its star leads to significant tidal forces, which contribute to strong atmospheric phenomena and influence its extreme weather patterns. WASP-12b has garnered interest in astrophysics and planetary science for studying the atmospheres of exoplanets and understanding the effects of stellar irradiation on their physical properties.
A distant and scorching exoplanet, known as WASP-12b, is hurtling towards its demise in a fiery crash with its parent star, according to new research. Astronomers have long predicted the…