\u201cWith a mass in the Neptune regime and a radius of Jupiter, WASP-107b presents a challenge to planet formation theories. Meanwhile, the planet\u2019s low surface gravity and the star\u2019s brightness also make it one of the most favorable targets for atmospheric characterization,\u201d researchers explain in <\/span>The Astronomical Journal<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n This study, headed by Caroline Piaulet, a Ph.D. student at the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al\u2019s (UdeM) Institute for Research on Exoplanets (iREx), suggests other such cotton candy worlds may be found in <\/span>other solar systems<\/a>.<\/p>\n Planets form within protoplanetary disks of gas and dust surrounding young stars. Astronomers seeking to understand the formation of gas giants is largely based on the only examples we knew until recently \u2014 Jupiter and Saturn.<\/p>\n [Read: How this company leveraged AI to become the Netflix of Finland<\/span><\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n Calculations suggested planetary cores needed to have masses at least 10 times greater than Earth in order to collect the vast amounts of gas needed to form a <\/span>gas giant<\/a> <\/span>\u2014 far greater than WASP-107b. So, how did this cotton candy planet take shape?<\/p>\n \u201cFor WASP-107b, the most plausible scenario is that the planet formed far away from the star, where the gas in the disc is cold enough that gas accretion can occur very quickly. The planet was later able to migrate to its current position, either through interactions with the disc or with other planets in the system,\u201d Eve Lee of McGill University stated.<\/p>\n Super-puff planets are the least dense of all <\/span>exoplanets<\/a>. Even these, however, were thought to have a lower limit to their densities. This new study challenges these old assumptions.<\/p>\n Piaulet\u2019s team analyzed data recorded at the Keck Observatory in Hawaii, in order to better understand the mass and composition of this exoplanet, discovered in 2017.<\/p>\n They utilized the radial velocity method, examining the wobble created by a star as a planet orbits around it. The team determined that WASP-107b is centered on a solid core just four times more massive than <\/span>Earth<\/a>.<\/p>\n This would suggest that over 85% of the mass of the world is contained in its atmosphere. Neptune \u2014 the most similar planet in our solar system \u2014 holds just 10 to 15% of its mass in its atmosphere.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a lot of questions about WASP-107b. How could a planet of such low-density form? And how did it keep its huge layer of gas from escaping, especially given the planet\u2019s close proximity to its star?\u201d <\/span>Piaulet descibes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Examination of the atmosphere of WASP-107b, using the <\/span>Hubble Space Telescope<\/a>, showed little methane in the air surrounding this unusual exoplanet, where researchers expected to find higher concentrations.<\/p>\n \u201cCotton candy is the perfect snack for when I\u2019m in the mood to eat dry, scratchy fabric.\u201d \u2014 Demetri Martin<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In the video above, take a look at what the exoplanet WASP-107b might look like in its orbit around its parent star.<\/p>\nLook\u2026 up in the sky! It\u2019s super-puff!<\/h2>\n
Because exoplanets don\u2019t care what humans think is impossible<\/h2>\n
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/max\/950\/1*7nzwSaWlZ-mJB3rh1323ug.jpeg\")
But, wait! There\u2019s more!<\/h2>\n
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