Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot: Astronomers Discover a Giant Planet Hotter Than Most Stars

After a decade of searching and verification, a research team revealed a new exoplanet, and you could say it’s coming in hot. The orb is the hottest giant exoplanet ever found, according to a study published in Nature. “KELT-9b” intrigues astronomers not just because of the unusual chemistry the heat is bound to create in its atmosphere, but also because of the opportunities it offers for more in-depth studies.

“We’re fascinated with the weirdness that nature hands us,” says former Member B. Scott Gaudi, an astronomer at the Ohio State University who helmed the study, as he explains why his academic circle is ablaze with KELT-9b curiosity.