images

Artist's conception of the exoplanet HD 209458b

by

L.Bret/Novapix

Reference

a-exo99-00504

Date

2006-11-20

The extrasolar planet HD 209458b, provisionally nicknamed Osiris, is shown here in this artist concept. Oxygen and carbon have been found in its atmosphere, evaporating at such an immense rate that the existence of a new class of extrasolar planets - ‘the chthonian planets' or ‘dead' cores of completely evaporated gas giants - has been proposed.