WASP-12b: The Extreme Hot Jupiter

WASP-12b is one of the most extreme exoplanets ever discovered—a “hot Jupiter” orbiting

so close to its parent star that a single year lasts just over 24 hours. Located about 1,400

light-years from Earth in the constellation Auriga, the planet was first identified in 2008

through the transit method, when astronomers observed regular dips in starlight

as the planet passed in front of its host star. What makes WASP-12b remarkable is its

extreme environment. The planet orbits at a blistering proximity—only about 2 million miles

from its star, which is roughly 1/44th the distance between Earth and the Sun.

Because of this, its dayside temperatures soar above 2,500°C (about 4,500°F), hot enough to melt