Question

Why are many of the newly detected extrasolar planets called ʺhot Jupitersʺ?

A) Their masses are similar to Jupiter but they are very close to the central star and therefore hot.

B) The planets tend to be detected around more massive, hotter stars than our Sun.

C) Their masses and composition are similar to what we would expect if Jupiter were hotter.

D) Their masses are similar to Jupiter but their composition is similar to Mercury.

E) The discovery of new planets is very exciting.

Answer 1

Hot Jupiters are giant exoplanets with similar masses to Jupiter that orbit very close to their stars, making them extremely hot, and challenging initial planet formation theories.

Step-by-step explanation:

Many of the newly detected extrasolar planets are called hot Jupiters because their masses are similar to Jupiter but they are very close to the central star, which makes them extremely hot. These giant planets orbit so close to their stars that water ice, which is believed to be essential for the formation of giant planets, cannot remain stable due to the star’s heat. The discovery of these planets challenged previous models of planet formation, leading to the new understanding that includes planet migrations within the protoplanetary disk, or gravitational interactions with other planets that can push a planet closer to its star.