WASP-107 b is a gas giant exoplanet situated around 200 light-years from Earth, approximately the same size as Jupiter but with only about one-tenth of its mass.
First spotted in 2017, WASP-107 b orbits its star at a distance of about 5.1 million miles, significantly closer than Earth's 94 million-mile orbit, completing an orbit around its star every 5.7 days.
WASP-107 b is one of the least dense planets ever discovered, having a mass of only 30.5 Earths compared to Jupiter s 318 Earth masses
New research suggests that WASP-107 b s unusually low density is due to its core being much hotter than expected, leading to less methane in its atmosphere.
Data from the James Webb Space Telescope reveals that WASP-107 b has 1,000 times less methane than anticipated, indicating intense internal heat which prevents methane stability.
The planet possesses an exceptionally large core 12 times the mass of Earth's core marking the first time an exoplanet's core mass has been measured from afar.
The planet's high internal temperature may be due to tidal heating caused by its elliptical and close orbit, where the star's gravity stretches and squishes the planet's core, generating heat.
The findings suggest that gas giants like WASP-107 b may not require an unusual formation process; instead, they might form with a significant rocky core and a moderate amount of gas.