WASP-85 A b

WASP-85 A b Encyclopedic Information

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History & Significance

Discovered in 2014 through the Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) project, this world was identified using the transit method, where scientists watch for the subtle dip in starlight as the planet passes in front of its parent sun. Unlike many exoplanets that orbit single stars, WASP-85 A b is part of a binary system, orbiting the primary star WASP-85 A. While it lacks a name rooted in ancient mythology, its location in the constellation Leo—the Great Lion—connects it to one of the oldest recognized constellations in human history, known to the Babylonians, Greeks, and Egyptians as a symbol of power and celestial majesty.

Since its detection, follow-up observations using high-precision radial velocity measurements have confirmed its massive nature. The discovery was a significant milestone for the WASP consortium, highlighting their ability to detect planets even within the gravitational turmoil of a multi-star system. Every new observation of WASP-85 A b helps refine our models of how gas giants survive in such high-energy environments, providing a deeper look into the formation history of planets orbiting binary stars.

Physical Structure

WASP-85 A b is a bloated gas giant, possessing a mass approximately 1.25 times that of Jupiter. Because it orbits its host star at an incredibly close distance—completing a full year in just under 2.7 days—the planet is tidally locked, meaning one side is eternally bathed in the stars glare while the other remains in perpetual darkness. This extreme proximity causes the planet’s atmosphere to swell, creating a low-density, puffy appearance that is characteristic of hot Jupiters. We suspect its upper atmosphere is a roiling, turbulent sea of hydrogen and helium, potentially laced with clouds of vaporized metals and exotic silicates.

Beneath its thick, swirling gaseous shroud, the interior of WASP-85 A b likely transitions into a metallic hydrogen mantle, a state of matter only found under the crushing pressures of a gas giants core. Given its intense heat, the planet likely radiates a faint, eerie glow in the infrared spectrum. While it lacks a solid surface to stand on, its magnetic field is likely powerful and complex, potentially interacting with the magnetic field of its host star to create spectacular, invisible auroras that dance across the planet’s upper atmosphere, fueled by the relentless solar wind.