Hey YouTube, Jim here! Welcome to Top10Archive! The more we explore the farthest reaches of
the universe, the more we realize just how weird it can be. Every new planet discovered
comes with the potential for bizarre attributes, unique physical features, and alien elements.
Of the numerous planets discovered since the advent of the space program, none are as outlandish
as the top ten strangest planets chronicled in this galactic Archive! Before we get started,
we invite you to subscribe our channel, and afterward if you enjoyed the video, hit that
like button, and be sure to leave us a comment because we're always looking to engage in
stellar conversations with you! Also, don't forget to click the bell so you get notified
every time we put out a new video! 10. PSR B1620-26 b
Nicknamed after a 969-year-old man in the Hebrew Bible, PSR B1620-25 b, or Methuselah,
is the oldest known planet in the universe. Sized at an estimated 2.5 times the mass of
Jupiter, the largest planet in our own solar system, Methuselah is dated at almost 13 billion
years old, during a time when the heavier elements responsible for planets like Earth
were scarce and planet formation was thought impossible. What the unique world proves is
that globular clusters, like the star cluster M4 that Methuselah was found in, could be
hiding ancient celestial bodies despite earlier research.
9. HD 106906 b Eleven times the mass of Jupiter, HD 106906
b was first publicly observed in 2013 by a team of astronomers at the University of Arizona.
While impressively large, the 13-million-year-old exoplanet is best known for its massive orbit
around its host star, HD 106906. At 650 AU from its host star, astronomers believe it's
impossible for the planet to have formed from the protoplanetary disk, or disk of gas and
dust surrounding a young star, and suggest that it may have formed in a binary system.
The issue with that theory is that the current mass ratio of roughly 140:1 far exceeds the
standard ratio in a binary system of 10:1. 8. HAT-P-1
It’s not often you hear a planet described as “big and puffy,” but when it has a
mass half that of Jupiter’s with double the volume, those words are pretty fitting.
When HAT-P-1 was first observed within the Lacerta constellation in 2006, its close distance
to its host star, ADS 16402 b, was its notable feature, but even the .55 AU gap was largely
forgotten as astronomers found that HAT-P-1 was a lightweight gas giant. Likely comprised
primarily of hydrogen and helium, it’s believed that a 1-meter (3-foot) cube cut from the
planet would weigh about 290 kilograms (640 lbs) - in contrast, the same amount of Earth
would weigh about 5,500 kilograms (12,125 lbs).
7. CoRoT-7b Lovingly described as a “Volcanic Hell,”
no matter how Earth-like CoRoT-7b may be, this tiny exoplanet isn’t going to be welcoming
us anytime soon. At 60 times closer to its host star than Earth is to the Sun, CoRoT-7b
is said to experience heating up to 3,600°F (1,982°C) on its lit side. While the planet’s
Earth-like properties indicate that it is likely made of rock, its extreme temperatures
would have liquified any solid surface and may have even reduced its mass considerably
over time. 6. TrES-4
A baffling mystery of astronomical proportions, TrES-4 has been stumping researchers since
its discovery in 2006. Not only is the extrasolar planet of the Hercules constellation one of
the largest exoplanets ever discovered, it also takes the award for being the planet
with the lowest density. At 70% larger than Jupiter, TrES-4 only contains ¾ of the giant’s
mass, making it comparative to the density of balsa wood. The disproportionate physical
size to mass may have roots in TrES-4’s close distance of 7.2 million km (4.5 million
miles) to its host star, GSC 02620-00648. 5. TrES-2b
If you’re looking for a dark corner of the universe to hide out in and reflect on your
life, TrES-2b may be your best bet. Why the surface of this Jupiter-sized gas giant reflects
almost no light is a mystery to astronomers, but some have proposed it has something to
do with the abundance of sodium and titanium oxide in its gaseous atmosphere. Whatever
the cause, TrES-2b reflects less than 1% of the light that hits it but still reaches temperatures
as high as 1,800°F (982°C). 4. WASP-12b
Bad news, Archivists! We have a limited window to view the extrasolar planet of WASP-12b.
Of course, that window is upwards of 10 million years, but that doesn’t change the fact
that, in May of 2010, astronomers have been observing the consumption of WASP-12b by its
host star. It’s been no secret that a star could literally devour a planet, but the consumption
of WASP-12b marks the first time astronomers have been able to observe the event clearly.
The carbon-giant is only 2.1 million miles (3.3 million km) away from its Sun, a staggering
33.8 million miles (53.1 million km) closer than Mercury is to our own glowing orb.
3. Gliese 504b Do ya think it’s the hard-to-miss, dark
magenta coloring of this planet that everybody’s clambering about? Possibly, but beyond that,
Gliese 504b happens to be the smallest known exoplanet that orbits a Sun-like star… which
is interesting, but we’re still drawn to that unique, cotton candy hue! Beneath the
pinkish exterior, which is believed to be the leftover glow from the heat of its formation,
Gliese 504b is actually thought to be cold and blue, as indicated by infrared imagery.
2. 55 Cancri e If you’re in a bind and need a lot of money,
you may want to turn your attention to the super-Earth, 55 Cancri e. A 2010 paper on
55 Cancri e and its host star reported that both were carbon-rich, leading to the belief
that the planet may be a gold mine of diamonds. Though a 2013 follow-up claims the star is
comprised of less carbon than originally thought, it doesn’t entirely rule out the possibility
of the concept of a “diamond planet.” Located in the Cancer constellation, 55 Cancri
e orbits its star in 2.8 days and was the first super-Earth to have its atmosphere successfully
analyzed. 1. HD 188753 A
No, we’re not tricking you with images of Tatooine. In 2005, HD 188753 A was discovered
and became the first planet found within a triple-star system. Only marginally larger
than Jupiter, the extrasolar planet is accompanied by three unique stars. How the gas giant came
about in the three-star system proves to be the greatest puzzle as the presence of multiple
stars alters the stability of the disk of debris, making it difficult for the gaseous
form to accumulate and grow in size. Thanks for journeying with us to these strange and
fascinating planets. If you found this video interesting, then give it a like and leave
a stellar comment below. Remember to subscribe and click the bell to be be automatically
notified about our next new video.