Final answer:
Hot Jupiters likely migrated inwards from their formation points further out in the solar system due to interactions within the protoplanetary disk. This theory is widely supported by current research.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best explanation for the location of hot Jupiters is that they formed further out in the solar system and then migrated inwards due to interactions with other gases or through gravitational encounters with sibling planets. This migration occurred within the protoplanetary disk when the system was young and still contained a significant amount of material.
The process involved the planet interacting with gas and dust in the disk, leading to a loss of orbital energy and a subsequent spiral inward towards the host star. The theory that most researchers support involves orbit changes that allow planets formed in colder regions to move closer to their stars.