WASP-6b

WASP-6b / Boinayel
Size comparison of WASP-6b with Jupiter.
Discovery[1]
Discovered byGillon et al. (SuperWASP)
Discovery siteSAAO
Discovery dateApril 1, 2008
Transit
Orbital characteristics[2]
0.04217+0.00079
−0.0012 AU
Eccentricity<0.070
3.36100239(37) d
Inclination88.47°+0.65°
−0.47°
1.70+0.12
−0.23[1]
Semi-amplitude71.6+2.4
−2.6 m/s
StarWASP-6
Physical characteristics[2]
1.224+0.051
−0.052 RJ
Mass0.483+0.026
−0.030 MJ
Mean density
0.326+0.048
−0.043 g/cm3
0.82 g
Temperature1235+70
−77 K (962 °C; 1,763 °F)[3]

WASP-6b, also named Boinayel, is an exoplanet approximately 650 light years away in the constellation Aquarius. It was discovered in 2008, by the WASP survey, by astronomical transit across its parent star WASP-6. This planet orbits at only 4% of the Earth-Sun distance. The planet has a mass half that of Jupiter, but its insolation has forced a thermal expansion of its radius to greater than that of Jupiter.[1] Thus, this planet is an inflated hot Jupiter.[1][4] Starspots on the host star WASP-6 helped to refine the measurements of the mass and the radius of the planet.[5]

Comparison of "hot Jupiter" exoplanets (artist concept).

From top left to lower right: WASP-12b, WASP-6b, WASP-31b, WASP-39b, HD 189733b, HAT-P-12b, WASP-17b, WASP-19b, HAT-P-1b and HD 209458b.
  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference disc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Bonomo2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kammer2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Carter2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tregloan-Reed2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).