Astronomers have discovered two Jupiter-sized planets with densities lower than cotton candy, orbiting a star 1,110 light-years from Earth. The pair represent the lightest known planets of their size ever observed.
Key Takeaways
- Two exoplanets the size of Jupiter have densities lower than cotton candy, making them the lightest planets of their size on record
- The planets orbit a star 1,110 light-years away and are classified as "super-puffs"
- Scientists have not yet explained how such massive planets maintain such extremely low densities
What Happened
Astronomers identified a pair of giant exoplanets with extraordinarily low densities in orbit around a distant star. The planets are comparable in size to Jupiter but possess densities less than cotton candy, according to CBS News. These objects fall into a rare category called "super-puffs" — gas giants with inflated atmospheres and minimal mass for their volume.
The University of Oxford's George Dransfield confirmed that the discovery represents the lightest known planets of this size class. One researcher described the planets' density as "comparable to a nice blob of shaving foam," emphasizing just how insubstantial these worlds are despite their massive diameters.
What Is Confirmed
The source material confirms several key details about the cotton candy exoplanets. Both planets orbit a star located 1,110 light-years from Earth. They are Jupiter-sized but possess densities lower than cotton candy, making them the biggest exoplanets discovered with such extremely low densities. The classification "super-puff" describes their unusual physical properties — bloated atmospheres that give them planet-scale volumes without corresponding mass.
George Dransfield from the University of Oxford stated these are the lightest known planets of their size. The available reports do not specify which telescopes or observational methods were used to detect them, nor do they identify the star system by catalog designation.
Why It Matters
Ultra-low-density exoplanets challenge existing models of planetary formation and atmospheric retention. Standard theories struggle to explain how gas giants can maintain such inflated atmospheres without collapsing under their own gravity or losing mass to stellar wind over time. Most Jupiter-sized planets have densities similar to water or higher — the existence of worlds with densities closer to foam suggests processes scientists do not yet fully understand.
These outliers provide natural laboratories for studying atmospheric evolution under extreme conditions. If a planet this size can remain this diffuse, it suggests unusual thermal dynamics, internal heat sources, or chemical compositions that prevent atmospheric compression. Understanding super-puffs may reveal new mechanisms that affect how planets evolve after formation, particularly around young or active stars.
What Remains Unclear
The available reports do not explain how these planets formed or how they maintain such low densities over astronomical timescales. Scientists have not disclosed the age of the host star, which would help determine whether these planets are young and still contracting or whether they represent a stable configuration that defies conventional models.
The reports do not identify the specific telescope or survey that made the discovery, nor do they indicate whether follow-up observations are planned. Details about the planets' atmospheric composition, orbital periods, and surface temperatures remain undisclosed. The mechanism that inflates their atmospheres to such extreme volumes has not been confirmed.
What To Watch Next
Observers should look for publication of the peer-reviewed study detailing this discovery. The research will likely appear in a major astronomy journal and should include the star's catalog designation, the planets' measured masses and radii, and spectroscopic data on atmospheric composition. Follow-up observations from space-based telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope could provide thermal profiles and chemical signatures that explain the planets' anomalous densities.
If the host star is identified, amateur astronomers and professional surveys may monitor the system for transits or additional planets. Understanding whether this is a multi-planet system with varied densities could reveal whether the super-puff configuration results from planetary interactions or from properties of the star itself.
