NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered a fascinating exoplanet aptly named Phoenix. This world defies expectations by clinging to its atmosphere despite being relentlessly bombarded by radiation from its aging red giant star.
An Inhospitable Embrace
Phoenix orbits its star at an incredibly close distance, a mere 5.6 million miles, which is a scorching 6% of the Earth-Sun distance. This proximity translates to a scorching year on Phoenix, lasting just 4.2 Earth days.
Anomaly Against the Norm
Beyond its tight orbit, Phoenix boasts a size 6.2 times that of Earth and a mass a staggering 20 times our planet. However, here's the twist: Phoenix is remarkably puffy, having a density a mere 60th of the densest hot Neptune exoplanet discovered so far.