Hot Jupiters

Hot Jupiters are large gas giant planets similar in size to Jupiter, but they orbit very close to their host stars. Because of their proximity, they experience extremely high temperatures, often thousands of degrees, which make their atmospheres intense and dynamic. Their close orbits result in very short planetary years—sometimes just a few days. Despite their similarities to Jupiter, their extreme closeness to their star produces unique characteristics, such as atmospheric heating, large atmospheric winds, and sometimes even atmospheric escape. They offer valuable insights into planetary formation and migration processes in diverse star systems.