WASP-12 b: An Egg-shaped Exoplanet

The doomed planet WASP-12b is a hot Jupiter that orbits so close to its parent star, it's being torn apart. It takes this alien world only 1.1 days to completely circle its sun.

This artist's concept shows the doomed planet WASP-12b, a hot Jupiter orbiting so close to its parent star, it's being torn apart. It takes this alien world only 1.1 days to completely circle its sun. The star's gravity also pulls material off the planet into a disk around the star. In 10 million years, this alien world could be completely consumed.

Almost two times the size of our Jupiter, WASP-12b is a sizzling gas giant whose temperature is approximately 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,210 degrees Celsius). Gravity causes enormous tidal forces which are stretching the planet into the shape of an egg.

WASP-12b is located roughly 1,200 light-years away in the constellation Auriga. It was discovered in March 2009 via the transit method. It is 1.8 times Jupiter's radius, and 1.4 times Jupiter's mass.

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