WASP-12b’s extreme proximity to its yellow dwarf star, a mere 2.1 million miles away, has given it the classification of an “ultra-hot Jupiter.” This results in a blistering surface temperature of 4,000°F (2,210°C). Its close orbit causes immense tidal forces, distorting the planet into an egg shape and stripping its material into a surrounding disk.
Researchers used 12 years of transit observations from the Asiago Observatory in Italy to study WASP-12b’s orbital variations. The team concluded that the planet’s decay is caused by tidal dissipation, where gravitational forces between the star and planet convert orbital energy into heat, shrinking the orbit. However, the rapid decay rates suggest an anomaly: WASP-12’s behavior hints at an advanced stellar stage, yet analyses confirm it remains in its main sequence.
Unexpectedly, the star showed high activity levels, with sunspots and plasma outbursts that may accelerate WASP-12b’s disintegration. The findings open questions about whether other ultra-hot Jupiters share similar fates.
When WASP-12b eventually collides with its star, the resulting explosion will make the star hundreds of times brighter, albeit briefly—an event observable from Earth if humanity still exists millions of years from now. Lead researcher Pietro Leonardi suggests this dramatic fate might not be unique, as studies indicate fewer hot Jupiters exist around older stars.
The research team continues their investigation, now collaborating with the European Space Agency’s CHEOPS mission to measure orbital decay in other hot Jupiters. Leonardi believes their findings could help uncover whether these exoplanets’ fiery ends are a common feature of the universe.
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