Distant from the eight well-known planets in our solar system, numerous strange and extreme celestial bodies lie waiting to be discovered—some of which have already been detected.
Thanks to the swift advancement of telescope tech, scientists have identified over 5,600 exoplanets beyond our solar system.
exoplanets
As scientists refer to them, these planets include fiery spheres of molten rock and watery orbs. Some are scorched by the intense radiation from their parent stars, while others remain shrouded in perpetual darkness. Among them are celestial bodies reminiscent of those seen in “Star Wars,” along with potential habitats for alien organisms beyond our wildest imaginations.
Come with us as we explore some of the weirdest and most intriguing exoplanets in our astonishing universe.
The “inferno planet” where molten lava showers down.
55 Cancri e
is a terrestrial planet roughly eight times larger than Earth, classifying it as a “super Earth” among exoplanets. Although its dimensions are impressive, the environment on this celestial body is far from favorable. Frequently referred to as the “planet from hell,” 55 Cancri e has surfaces entirely engulfed in rivers of molten rock, and it might also
rain lava
It is also situated. The exoplanet lies 41 light-years away from Earth, which makes it a favored subject for research (though not ideal for vacations).
Related:
38 stunning James Webb Space Telescope photographs
The aquatic planet featuring (possibly) inhabited seas
K2-18 b is an extensive planet situated approximately 120 light-years away from our Sun. This celestial body resides within the “habitable zone” of its star, indicating that conditions might be just right for liquid water—and possibly even life—to exist there. Recent observations using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) suggest evidence supporting the possibility that this exoplanet could harbor its very own oceans of liquid water.
could potentially harbor living organisms
In this research, JWST identified potential indications of dimethyl sulfide—a substance exclusively released by phytoplankton on our planet—in the atmosphere of an exoplanet.
The real-world “Tatooine”
Luke Skywalker would find himself quite comfortable here.
Kepler-16b
This exoplanet holds the distinction of being the first identified circumbinary world—a celestial body that revolves around two stars simultaneously, much like the fictional planet Tatooine from “Star Wars.” Due to its gas giant characteristics akin to those of Saturn, navigating such an enormous sphere would pose significant challenges for even the most skilled Jedi knights. The mysterious orb lies approximately 200 light-years away from our solar system.
The rule-breaking behemoth
The
giant exoplanet LHS 3154b
leaves scientists puzzled, as it appears much larger compared to its diminutive star. This planet has roughly 13 times the mass of Earth yet circles a star that is nine times smaller.
less massive
More luminous than the sun, this seems implausible according to scientists who discovered it in 2023. Further investigations into this “unthinkable” celestial body might challenge our current understanding of how planets come into being.
What is the biggest exoplanet discovered so far in our universe?
With a diameter two times larger than Jupiter’s, the exoplanet HAT-P-67 b could potentially be the
biggest identified planet in existence
, in terms of width. However, even with its massive size, there are more
massive
There are worlds beyond our own. This enormous planet, situated roughly 1,200 light-years away from Earth, boasts an extremely low density, making it just one-third as massive as Jupiter.
The “fluffy” planet where it hails sand
Situated 200 light-years away from our planet, the exoplanet WASP-107b exhibits an exceptionally low density, causing it to seem quite “puffy” when observed through telescopes. Recently,
James Webb Space Telescope investigation into the planet
exposed clouds possibly consisting of tiny silicate grains, indicating that it might actually rain sand on this inflated planet.
The planet referred to as the “eyeball world” featuring possible living oceans.
Positioned merely 50 light-years away from our planet, the
slitted-eyed exoplanet LHS 1140 b
It could potentially harbor alien life due to its uniquely structured surface. Researchers examining the planet using the James Webb Space Telescope discovered evidence suggesting that much of the planet might be encased in ice—except for an area perpetually facing its parent star. This region’s constant exposure to stellar radiation might cause sufficient melting to create a round body of liquid water, as per their findings. Apart from bestowing upon the planet a distinctive target-like look, this unusual aquatic environment might serve as an ideal habitat for extraterrestrial organisms, they noted.
The rotten-egg world
The
exoplanet HD 189733 b
About 64 light-years away from our planet, lies a world with an exceptionally distinctive chemical makeup that allows astronomers to virtually sense its presence even from afar. According to new observations made using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), this distant exoplanet’s atmosphere boasts considerable levels of hydrogen sulfide—a poisonous and combustible substance emitted by decomposing biological materials and volcanic activity here on Earth—known for its foul stench reminiscent of rotting eggs. Despite being unbearably scorching and completely inhospitable to known forms of life (which we’re undoubtedly grateful for), discovering these specific compounds within its gaseous envelope indicates promising potential; suggesting that JWST could potentially identify signs of extraterrestrial biology throughout the cosmos before long.
The “Vulcan planet” that may not exist
In an astonishing instance where science fiction mirrors reality, researchers announced finding a planet akin to Vulcan—the birthplace of Mr. Spock from the Star Trek universe. This celestial body was identified in 2018 orbiting the actual star known as 40 Eridani A—precisely the star that supports Spock’s homeworld within the renowned sci-fi saga. Nonetheless,
recent follow-up observations
Some observations of the star have cast doubt on the planet’s existence; slight fluctuations in the star’s luminosity might be due to periodic outbursts on the star’s surface instead of gravitational effects from an orbiting body. As such, the confirmation of the Vulcan planet, known as HD 26965 b, appears less certain.
A world similar to Earth orbiting a diminutive, reddish star
The Earth might have had a previously unknown sibling within a neighboring star system. Known as
Gliese 12 b
The planet circles a small, reddish star approximately 40 light-years away from us. Interestingly, this exoplanet has a diameter only slightly larger than Earth’s, making it quite comparable to our world. Despite orbiting its parent star far closer than we do around the Sun—where one local year passes in just about 13 Earth days—the star itself is considerably less massive. This positioning places the exoplanet within the habitable zone, allowing for potential presence of liquid water on its surface. Consequently, our celestial neighbor might host some form of extraterrestrial life.
A planet of Earth’s size that experiences constant darkness
Not all Earth-size planets are lucky enough to be habitable. Take
SPECULOOS-3 b, a rocky, Earth-like world
whose orbit around its red dwarf star is a little too close for comfort. Completing an orbit every 17 hours, the rocky world is exposed to so much radiation that its atmosphere was likely blasted away long ago, leaving the unlucky planet totally barren. The roasting temperatures aren’t a global phenomenon, however; this planet is tidally locked, meaning one side always faces its star in eternal day, while the other side sits in perpetual night.
The crimson volcanic planet that’s “dissolving from inside”
Astronomers have identified a planet within a far-off stellar system where volcanic eruptions seem to occur frequently enough for the entire globe to emit a reddish glow visible via telescopes.
smoldering exoplanet, named TOI-6713.01
Located approximately 66 light-years away from our planet, this celestial body completes an orbit around its star very swiftly, taking just 2.2 Earth days for one full revolution. Astronomers believe that the surface of this exoplanet is largely comprised of flowing magma, triggered by numerous ongoing volcanic activities. Additionally, intense tidal forces originating from the gravitational pull of both its parent star and nearby planetary bodies contribute significantly to the heat generated internally, potentially leading to extensive melting processes beneath its crust.
The gaseous planet characterized by winds as swift as bullets
Researchers have charted the climate of a massive exoplanet located about 280 light-years away from our planet, revealing conditions that are quite harsh.
The planet, named WASP-43b
is tidally locked, showing only one side constantly towards its star while the opposite side remains shrouded in perpetual night. These extreme conditions result in substantial thermal variations, leading to wind speeds estimated as high as 5,600 mph (9,000 km/h), far surpassing the velocity of a bullet.
The hellish world with glorious rainbows
The
exoplanet WASP-76 b
— located about 637 light-years from Earth — is not the type of place you’d want to vacation. Orbiting 20 times closer to its home star than Mercury orbits the sun, the planet’s dayside is estimated to reach 4,350 degrees Fahrenheit (2,400 degrees Celsius), making it a true hell world. There is one draw, however: A strange bright spot observed on the planet’s surface, right where the day and night sides meet, could be a “glory” — a rare visual phenomenon, sometimes seen on Earth, made up of concentric rainbow rings forming a giant circle.
The massive planets circling deceased stars
One day, the sun will cease to exist—but certain planets within our solar system might endure. Researchers reached this conclusion after identifying two massive planets circling “lifeless” white dwarf stars in far-off planetary systems.
WD 1202-232 and WD 2105-82
The planets are believed to have masses ranging from one to seven times that of Jupiter, and they each circle tiny, inactive stars at distances exceeding 11.5 astronomical units away from their respective stars. If these findings hold up, they suggest that our own Solar System’s similar planets—Jupiter and Saturn—might endure even after the Sun meets its ultimate demise; unfortunately for us, Earth might not share this fate.
likely to be swallowed up
During our sun’s ultimate expansion.)
The “nomad” planets of Orion
Most known planets orbit stars, but there may be countless others that don’t. Scientists using the JWST have discovered
hundreds of free-floating “rogue planets”
zooming through the Orion Nebula, untethered to any star. Strangely, about 80 of these rogue worlds are trapped in binary orbits with each other, tumbling through space in pairs. Scientists are not certain how these worlds got ejected from their home star systems or why they are trapped in binary orbits. Given that these planets are roughly as massive as Jupiter, scientists have dubbed them Jupiter-mass binary objects — or JuMBOs, for short.
The far-off world that we can genuinely observe
Scientists typically discover most exoplanets indirectly by observing variations in the light from far-off stars. However, in 2004, researchers managed to
visual verification of an extraterrestrial planet
For the very first time, astronomers identified an object known as 2M1207b. This exoplanet resides approximately 170 light-years from Earth within the constellation Centaurus and has a mass around five times greater than that of Jupiter. It was detected using observations across three distinct infrared wavelengths, enabling scientists to capture the thermal emissions of the far-off body without being overwhelmed by the brightness of its parent star. Following this pioneering find, nearly 200 additional exoplanets were subsequently uncovered via direct imagery techniques. Meanwhile, over 5,000 more such celestial bodies came to light through alternative detection methods.
The planet featuring quartz clouds
Could you envision a sunset seen through a crystalline sky? This might become an actuality on the
exoplanet WASP-17b
A Jupiter-like gas giant, where the scorching conditions cause clouds composed of quartz crystals, as suggested by JWST observations. The planet has an exceptionally tight orbit around its host star, resulting in atmospheric temperatures soaring up to a searing 2,700°F (1,500°C). At such extreme heats, minuscule silica grains form within the atmosphere, potentially clustering together to create clouds made entirely of quartz, according to researchers.
The baby Jupiter about to be born
Scientists focused on discovering exoplanets look closely at both extant planets as well as potential ones.
universes that are about to come into existence
. While studying the region around the star V960 Mon, located about 5,000 light-years from Earth, scientists spotted a clumpy field of gas where two tendrils of material are apparently being funneled into distinct, planet-like lumps. According to the researchers, who made the discovery using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, this is the first time scientists have imaged a young star system on the verge of birthing its first giant planets.
The sibling planets dancing in lockstep
Orbiting the far-off star PDS 70, which lies 370 light-years away from our planet, can be found
a remarkably uncommon duo of brother-sister planets
A well-defined world approximately the size of Jupiter appears to rotate around its parent star. Following closely behind this planet, within the same orbital path, lies a massive cluster of gases and particles that scientists hypothesize could be an emerging planetary companion. While just one object clearly qualifies as a complete planet, these celestial bodies represent the initial observation of what astronomers call “Trojan planets.” These are twin planets thought to have originated simultaneously and in close proximity around their central star, sharing identical orbits.
The planet transforming its star into a “spiral galaxy”
Roughly 500 million light-years away from our planet lies a star system that appears strikingly similar.
Enveloped by two grimy spiral arms
It mirrors our very own Milky Way galaxy—but on an immensely smaller scale. This star’s galactic semblance can be attributed to what astronomers believe is a concealed, Jupiter-sized planet named MWC 758 c. This planet utilizes its substantial gravitational influence to shape the star’s cloud of dust into impressive spiral structures. While the existence of this planet hasn’t been definitively established, models indicate it could plausibly account for the peculiar appearance of its host star.
The mirror world that shouldn’t exist
Many planets reflect at least some of their parent star’s light. However,
the exoplanet LTT9779 b
It reflects as much as 80% of the light from its parent star—the highest reflectivity observed among all known planets. This remarkable albedo can primarily be attributed to an enveloping layer of metallic clouds surrounding the planet. Researchers believe that the atmosphere of this Neptune-sized celestial body consists largely of silicates, often referred to as glass-like substances, along with titanates—salts rich in titanium—which effectively transform the entire planetary environment into something akin to a giant reflective surface. However, this fascinating discovery raises questions for astronomers because the exoplanet resides extremely close to its star; under normal circumstances, such proximity would strip away most atmospheres due to intense stellar winds. Astronomers speculate that the presence of metals within these thick atmospheric layers might make them too dense for typical solar radiation pressures to disperse easily, thus providing some insight into how the planet manages to retain its substantial gaseous envelope despite hostile conditions.
The “zombie” planet that outlived its star’s demise
The exoplanet
8 Ursae Minoris b
Also referred to as Halla, this planet is a large gas giant similar to Jupiter, situated approximately 520 light-years away from our Earth. Astronomers believe that due to its proximity to its host star, which has transitioned into the red giant stage and expanded significantly before contracting back down, Halla ought to have been obliterated by intense heat. However, its existence near such an active stellar environment implies that it might have formed following the star’s reduction in size or indicates that what we see now could be remnants of two merging binary stars, thus averting complete annihilation during their expansion phases.
The water world with a steam atmosphere
The
exoplanet GJ 1214b
Situated merely 40 light-years away from our planet, this celestial body is concealed beneath dense layers of cloud, making it challenging for researchers to examine until now. Employing the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) infrared capabilities to penetrate these atmospheric veils, experts investigated the globe and detected what seemed to be a vapor-laden environment, indicating that substantial quantities of water might exist on its surface.
The planet similar to Earth but lacking an atmosphere
Orbiting the remote star TRAPPIST-1, there are seven terrestrial, Earth-sized worlds spinning within its habitable zone. Astronomers are keenly exploring whether these planets might have environments suitable for life. Of particular interest among them is one planet in particular.
TRAPPIST-1b
It might no longer be under consideration. The JWST’s examination of the rocky, Earth-like planet shows that it is extremely hot, reaching approximately 450°F (232°C), and most likely lacks an atmosphere. While some of this blazing planet’s neighboring worlds could potentially offer conditions suitable for life, further investigation is necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
The extraterrestrial sandstorm planet
Scientists using JWST have spotted a gargantuan sandstorm raging on the exoplanet
VHS 1256 b
Located approximately 40 light-years away from our planet, this massive celestial body orbits at an immense distance from its star, taking around 10,000 years for one full revolution. This significant separation allows astronomers to observe the exoplanet’s atmosphere more easily, as less glare from its sun obstructs their view. New findings reveal extremely heated clouds composed of silicon dioxide particles circulating within the planetary atmosphere. Researchers believe these conditions might indicate a colossal dust storm occurring there.
A planet warmer than a star
KELT-9b
is an exceptionally scorching, gas giant planet situated 670 light-years away from our planet. It boasts an approximate surface temperature of 7,800°F (4,300°C), making it the record holder for the hottest known exoplanet at the time of discovery—warmer even than many stars. The extreme temperatures have devastating effects on its atmosphere; on KELT-9b’s sunlit side, the stellar radiation is so fierce that it tears apart hydrogen molecules in the atmosphere, scattering them throughout the globe. Due to half of its atmosphere being continuously vaporized under these conditions, this celestial body would be a place best left unvisited.
The toxic football planet
Situated roughly 900 light-years away from our planet, the
exoplanet WASP-121b
It is extremely hot, causing heavy metals like iron and magnesium to continuously vaporize within its atmosphere before escaping into outer space. Researchers observed these metal vapors at such lofty altitudes that gravitational attraction couldn’t retain them, allowing them to float off. This intense warmth stems from the planet’s very near orbit around its parent star. Indeed, this proximity has led to significant deformation; influenced by stellar gravitational tides, the planet has been elongated into an oval form, setting it apart from typically found round exoplanets.
The extremely tiny realm hurtling along at an incredible pace
Situated 35 light-years away from our planet,
L 98-59b
It ranks among the least massive exoplanets found to date, boasting a mass only 0.4 times that of our own planet Earth. This diminutive celestial body zips swiftly around its parent star, finishing an orbital journey in merely two days and six hours. Due to this rapid motion and proximity to its star, the planet absorbs approximately 22 times more stellar radiation than Earth gets from the Sun, making it highly unlikely for the small, speedy planet to support life.
Earth’s “older cousin”
The exoplanet
Kepler-452 b
is strikingly akin to our home planet that NASA has named this celestial body as “Earth’s elder sibling.” This terrestrial exoplanet circles a star much like ours at an almost identical distance to what we maintain from the Sun, completing one orbit every approximately 385 days. Consequently, it falls well within the habitable region where liquid water might pool upon its surface. However, despite these similarities, this distant relative remains out of reach; positioned around 1,800 light-years away, reaching such a place would demand over thirty million years via spaceship.
The eerily similar sister worlds
The
exoplanet Kepler-36b
Is a terrestrial planet approximately 1.5 times larger than Earth and located incredibly near to another celestial body, a Neptune-like exoplanet named Kepler-36c. Every 97 days, these distant siblings come remarkably close to one another, with their closest approach being just under five lunar distances apart—the equivalent of only five Earth moons side-by-side. Such frequent gravitational interactions likely cause significant tidal effects between them, potentially leading to intense volcanic activity on the rocky planet Kepler-36b.
The unfortunate world orbiting a young star
The exoplanet
AU Microscopii b
Situated approximately 32 light-years away from our planet, AU Microscopii b finds itself distressingly close to its parent star at merely six million miles (nine point six million kilometers). This star is extraordinarily youthful and volatile for a red dwarf, estimated to be around 23 million years old—akin to an infant in astronomical timeframes. To put this into perspective, our Sun has existed for roughly 4.6 billion years. Due to the young star’s frequent violent explosions releasing radiation up to several thousand times more intense than even the most powerful solar flares emitted by the Sun,AU Microscopii b endures relentless bombardment. Observations reveal massive chunks of matter circling nearby, indicating that the unstable star continuously strips portions of the exoplanet’s atmospheric envelope.
