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This nearly inexplicable exoplanet has the density of cotton candy


The exoplanet WASP-107b may be as large as Jupiter, but this super-puff planet only contains one-tenth as much mass as the king of our Solar System. The density of this world is lower than what astronomers thought possible. The discovery of this bizarre exoplanet — sometimes called a cotton candy planet — provides astronomers with a unique target for further study. “With a mass in the Neptune regime and a radius of Jupiter, WASP-107b presents a challenge to planet formation theories. Meanwhile, the planet’s low surface gravity and the star’s brightness also make it one of the most favorable targets for atmospheric…

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