Unique ‘Super-Puff’ Planet Discovered Is the Size of Jupiter

Unique 'Super-Puff' Planet Discovered Is the Size of Jupiter

Unique 'Super-Puff' Planet Discovered Is the Size of Jupiter Credit: Pixabay

ASTRONOMERS have found a unique ‘super-puff’ planet that is the size of Jupiter, but only weighs a tenth of Jupiter’s weight.

The newly discovered planet called WASP-107b and has been nicknamed a ‘cotton-candy’ or ‘super-puff’ planet due to its low density. It is thought to be one of the lowest density exoplanets known to man.

The make-up of the planet raises many questions and has ‘big implications’ for the current knowledge on the growth and formation of planets.

WASP-107b is in the constellation of Virgo and is about 212 light years away from earth. It is also close to the WASP-107 star. According to researchers the planet has a solid core that weighs in at less than four times Earth’s mass.

Researchers from the University of Montreal have been able to calculate the ‘super-puff’ planet’s density and size using data from the Keck Observatory in Hawaii.


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Alex
Written by

Alex Glenn

Originally from the UK, Alex is based in Almeria and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.

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