NASA TESS Exoplanet Phoenix Space Science - Blog Posts

Exciting Discovery Alert!

Hey space enthusiasts, did you know that NASA's TESS has just uncovered a cosmic wonder?

NASA's exoplanet hunter just discovered a "weird" world named Phoenix that's defying expectations! This hot Neptune-sized planet is surprisingly small, old, and hot - and it's still got an atmosphere despite being super close to its red giant star.

According to the scientists, Phoenix should be a bare rock due to its proximity to the star, but instead, it is emerged from the flames with a nice and puffy atmosphere. It's a real mystery how it's managed to hang on!

Phoenix is part of a rare class of planets that orbit close to their stars, and its discovery shows just how diverse exoplanets can be. The team predicts that Phoenix will eventually spiral into its star in about 100 million years.

What can we learn from this peculiar planet? For one, it's giving us new insights on the late-stage evolution of planetary systems - including our own Earth! Who knows what secrets Phoenix holds about our planet's future?

So, let's get excited about this cosmic discovery and see what other mysteries NASA's TESS spacecraft will uncover!

I left an illustration shows the exoplanet Phoenix in the glare of its red giant parent star. (Image credit: Roberto Molar Candanosa/Johns Hopkins University)