The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced the discovery of the brightest planet (LTT9779b) ever found outside our solar system, which scientists describe as "a planet that shouldn't exist."
LTT9779b is about the size of Neptune and lies close to its star, with temperatures on the star-facing side reaching up to 2,000 degrees Celsius.
The planet's atmosphere is so oversaturated with silicate and metal vapors that both can condense into metallic clouds, some composed of raindrops made of titanium.
The metallic clouds reflect light, stopping the planet from getting too hot and evaporating. The Cheops space telescope enabled the scientists to observe and measure the planet's characteristics with high accuracy and precision. ESA reports.
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