The universe loves to throw surprises – recently, the European space Agency released information about a very unusual, unprecedented cosmic structure. This new type of extrasolar planets, which are so light and “empty” that density is comparable to balls of cotton wool. But they are ten times larger than the Earth.
Ultralight first exoplanets were found in the Kepler system 51 in 2012. Two years later, the Hubble telescope has measured their parameters that have led scientists to a standstill. And no wonder – the three cosmic bodies, gas giants, no less than Jupiter, in the amount of weigh less than one hundredth of its mass! What made these exoplanets?
Alas, the answer is no – all attempts to carry out detailed measurements are hampered by the veil of clouds. In a very real sense, the impression that the entire planet consists of only one day. Too dense to see what is happening under her, but too light to stay in place when extrasolar planets close to their star. There is a version that all of this gas wealth over time just evaporate.
Source — ESA