Space Exploration
Jun. 20th, 2026 02:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithGiant planet discovered where a day lasts longer than a year
Most hot Jupiters seem to behave in a predictable way. One side constantly faces the star, creating a blazing dayside and a cooler nightside. Strong winds move heat around the planet, creating a hot spot that is usually shifted slightly in the direction of the planet’s orbit.
But one world has been puzzling scientists for years because its hot spot appears in the wrong place. New research has now identified the most likely explanation. The planet, called CoRoT-2 b, may not be tidally locked at all.
Most hot Jupiters seem to behave in a predictable way. One side constantly faces the star, creating a blazing dayside and a cooler nightside. Strong winds move heat around the planet, creating a hot spot that is usually shifted slightly in the direction of the planet’s orbit.
But one world has been puzzling scientists for years because its hot spot appears in the wrong place. New research has now identified the most likely explanation. The planet, called CoRoT-2 b, may not be tidally locked at all.
