Discovery of Ultra‑Low‑Density Jupiter‑Sized Worlds
Astronomers have announced the detection of two giant planets that possess an extraordinarily low mass relative to their volume, making them lighter than the fluffy confection known as cotton candy.
The objects belong to the class of super‑puff planets, a rare category characterized by radii comparable to Jupiter but densities far below those of typical gas giants.
Initial measurements indicate that each world has a radius similar to that of Jupiter, yet its mass amounts to only a few percent of Jupiter’s mass, resulting in average densities well under 0.1 grams per cubic centimetre.
Such extreme puffiness challenges current models of planetary formation and evolution, prompting researchers to investigate possible atmospheric loss mechanisms or unusual internal compositions.
Future observations with advanced spectrographs and space‑based telescopes aim to characterize the atmospheric constituents and clarify how these planets retain their tenuous envelopes despite strong stellar irradiation.