Photo Agency - Astronomy - Space - Nature

> Artist's conception of the exoplanet HD 209458b

Artist's conception of the exoplanet HD 209458b

author: L.Bret/Novapix

reference: a-exo99-00504

Image Size 300 DPI: 29 * 21 cm

The extrasolar planet HD 209458b, provisionally nicknamed Osiris, is shown here in this artist concept. Oxygen and carbon have been found in its atmosphere, evaporating at such an immense rate that the existence of a new class of extrasolar planets - ‘the chthonian planets' or ‘dead' cores of completely evaporated gas giants - has been proposed.

Keywords for this photo:

2003 - ASTRONOMY - ATMOSPHERE - CHTHONIAN PLANET - EXOPLANET - EXTRASOLAR PLANET - G STAR - HD 209458 - HD 209458B - HOT JUPITER - ILLUSTRATION - OSIRIS - PEGASUS - PLANET - STAR -