The hottest known exoplanet is back in the news, answering some questions about ultra-hot planets, while also raising some new ones.
This Exoplanet's Atmosphere Is So Hot It Splits Molecules In Two
The day side of this scorching world rips hydrogen molecules apart — only to reform on the night side.
By Korey Haynes
Jan 29, 2020 9:15 PMJan 29, 2020 9:13 PM
To shreds you say? The hellish world KELT-9b is so hot on its dayside that molecules of hydrogen in its atmosphere are torn apart, only to recombine again after making it to the planets cooler nightside. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
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