Astronomers have identified two colossal exoplanets with densities so low they rival cotton candy. These so-called 'super-puffs' are comparable in size to Jupiter yet weigh far less, making them among the fluffiest worlds ever detected.
The discovery was made using data from the TESS space telescope and confirmed by ground-based observatories. It pushes the boundaries of known planetary diversity and raises new questions about how such objects can form and survive.
Both planets orbit a Sun-like star located roughly 1,200 light-years away in the constellation Lyra. Their measured densities are less than 0.1 grams per cubic centimeter — less than one-hundredth the density of water.
These worlds likely possess extended atmospheres composed mostly of hydrogen and helium, perhaps inflated by internal heat or tidal forces. Further study, particularly with the James Webb Space Telescope, could reveal more about their composition.
Experts caution that interior processes remain speculative. One researcher suggested these planets may be young systems still undergoing atmospheric evolution.