The search for other planets and objects in the outer space continues. Among the many fascinating discoveries, scientists have found the hottest planet ever. Known as Kelt-9b, this celestial object has temperatures exceeding 4,000°C! It is three times the size of Jupiter but density wise it is just half. An international team led by researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), collaborated with researchers from the University of Bern (UNIBE), Switzerland. The teams discovered the presence of iron and titanium vapors in the atmosphere of the planet which makes it the hottest one known. Indian Scientists Discover a Sub-Saturn like Planet Around a Sun-like Star. 

The findings are published in the journal Nature. Kelt-9b is part of the Cygnus constellation. It is 650 light years away from the earth and has another giant gas planet, Kelt orbiting it. The temperature measures on this planet are 10,000°C. Because of the proximity between the two celestial objects,  At its temperature, it becomes hotter than other stars. NASA Exoplanet Hunter Swings by Moon, Clicks First Image. 

The team of scientists used the HARPS-North spectrograph in La Palma, on the Baleaeric island of Mallorca, to study the planet in great detail. They found a signal detecting the presence of iron vapour in the spectrum of the planet. On digging deeper, they also detected titanium in its vapour form. Among all the other existing exoplanets, such atomic ones are hidden within gaseous oxides in the form of dust particles.

Now scientists are still figuring out how an atmosphere is formed on such a hot planet and what would it be like. The faraway distance from the earth only makes it difficult to study them in much detail. Venus, which is said to be the hottest planet in our solar system has temperatures around 462°C, which is minute compared to the 4000°C.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2018 04:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).