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Exoplanet- Hot Jupiter

by

Joe Bergeron/Novapix

Reference

a-exo99-31000

Date

2010-03-07

Many of the extra-solar planets which have been discovered in recent years are large, massive, and orbit surprisingly close to their parent stars. These are believed to be gas giant planets similar to Jupiter. Since they're so close to their sun, they are hot. Thus the common term for them has become "hot Jupiter". This one is hot enough to glow a dull red even on its night side. The existence of these planets has proven that the arrangement of other solar systems need not closely resemble our own.