Kelt-9b: astronomers discover hottest known giant planet
by Ian Sample Science editor from on (#2RXMF)
Twice the size of Jupiter and 650 lights years away, planet found using Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescopes, made with off-the-shelf components
It is a world like no other. Twice the size of Jupiter and hotter than most stars, the planet sweeps through space with a giant tail of superheated gas stretching out behind it. Life as we know it would not stand a chance.
Named Kelt-9b, the planet was discovered when astronomers spotted the shadow it cast as it crossed the face of its host star 650 light years away in the constellation of Cygnus. The planet is so close to the star that its surface reaches more than 4,300C (7800F), making it the hottest giant planet ever found.