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Nov 28, 2010

Scientists Discover the First Planet With a Tail

Scientists have discovered the first cometary planet, one with a huge tail, a stream of gas being ripped off by solar winds at 22,000 miles per hour. This jovian world is located 153 light-years from Earth.

The planet—called HD 209458b—orbits 100 times closer to its home star than our Jovian neighbor, traveling in an astonishingly fast 3.5-day orbit. For comparison, Mercury—our solar system fastest planet—has an 88-day orbit.

Since HD 209458b is so close to the sun, the stellar winds are ripping the planet's atmosphere apart. Scientists have used the Hubble's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph to gather evidence that support the theory that its 2,000ºF atmosphere is being ejected from its body at 22,000 miles per hour.

20 comments:

Leddi said...

Cool, wonder what it would be like if earth had a tail?

David Davidson said...

This is so cool

Anonymous said...

it would suck to live there lol

Classically Trained Nub said...

That's crazy!

Copyboy said...

Wow! I'll be like 50 is in a week.

Poetry of the Day said...

oh snap! this is pretty awesome

Monster Madness said...

Cool, I would love to see that planet IRL :)

Unknown said...

I heard about that! Nice pic btw

Alex said...

22.000 miles per hour?!?! close the doors damn drafts xD

Guy Movie Blogger said...

The universe is always showing us crazy new stuff. It seems unreal to think a planet could have a tail though!

Evan said...

awesome. wonder how long it'll be before the whole planet's atmosphere blows off

GemmaAndHannah said...

if earth had a tail it would be so much cooler, great stuff!

Vapor said...

I really wish we could figure out fast interstellar travel, there's no telling how many amazing things like this we are missing in the universe.

Suciô Sanchez said...

I thought the weather here was bad.

killerkun said...

That is a freaking hot planet!

Gurney said...

wow thats awesome

Joel C Anatoli said...

sweeeeeeeeeet

Sinisa said...

good to know...

MRanthrope said...

that orbit is ridiculous

Willow said...

Why oh why can't that be us? lol j/k, I would laugh my ass off if the scientists realized all these theories were wrong.