description KELT-9b Overview
KELT-9b is a giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 189733A. It’s notable as the hottest known planet, boasting a dayside temperature exceeding 4,000 Kelvin – hotter than many stars. This ultrahot Jupiter was discovered by the Kentucky Extrasolar Traniting Survey (KELT) in 2017 and is of interest to astronomers studying extreme planetary atmospheres and transiting exoplanets.
help KELT-9b FAQ
Why is KELT-9b considered the hottest known exoplanet?
KELT-9b is notable as the hottest known exoplanet ever discovered, with a dayside temperature exceeding 4,000 Kelvin. This extreme heat makes the planet's surface hotter than the actual surface temperature of many stars in our galaxy.
What type of star does KELT-9b orbit?
KELT-9b is an ultrahot Jupiter that tightly orbits the star HD 189733A, which is significantly hotter and larger than our Sun. The intense ultraviolet radiation from this massive star is actually causing the planet's atmosphere to continuously evaporate.
Who discovered KELT-9b and when was it announced?
The exoplanet was discovered in 2017 by researchers using the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT) survey. The discovery provided astronomers with a unique laboratory to study the extreme physics of planetary atmospheres.
What is happening to the atmosphere of KELT-9b?
Because of the intense heat from its parent star, heavy molecules in KELT-9b's atmosphere are continuously being broken down into atomic form. Scientists believe the extreme radiation is causing a massive trail of evaporating gas to stream away from the planet.
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