A faraway planet has developed a comet-like tail. The planet, known as HD 209458b, has orbited its star in extreme closeness for millions of years. Because of that closeness, heat from the star is blasting the planet’s atmosphere, which has caused the gaseous tail to develop.
HD 209458b is about 153 light years from Earth. The planet’s surface burns at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and a year passes in just 3.5 days.
Astronomers first announced the discovery of HD 209458b’s tail last week.