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The Most Terrifying Planets in the Universe
Imagine planets where the rain is made of glass, falling sideways at super fast speeds, or worlds covered in constant darkness, where the light from their star never reaches the ground. These aren’t the peaceful, blue spheres with white clouds or the red neighbors that have caught our attention for so long. Join us on this journey as we explore the most terrifying and scary planets that exist in our universe.
1. Gliese 436 b
Gliese 436 b is a planet located about 33 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. It is a super-Earth, meaning it is larger than Earth but smaller than a gas giant. Gliese 436 b is tidally locked to its star, which means that one side of the planet always faces the star and the other side is always in darkness. The side of the planet that faces the star is extremely hot, while the side that faces away from the star is extremely cold. This extreme temperature difference creates violent storms on the planet, which can reach speeds of up to 1,000 miles per hour.
2. Kepler-16b
Kepler-16b is a planet located about 200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. It is a gas giant, meaning it is composed mostly of gas. Kepler-16b is one of the hottest planets ever discovered, with a surface temperature of over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme heat is caused by the planet’s proximity to its star, which is only about 10 million miles away. Kepler-16b is also tidally locked to its star, which means that one side of the planet always faces the star and the other side is always in darkness. The side of the planet that faces the star is extremely hot, while the side that faces away from the star is extremely cold.
3. WASP-12b
WASP-12b is a planet located about 1,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Auriga. It is a gas giant, meaning it is composed mostly of gas. WASP-12b is one of the most massive planets ever discovered, with a mass about 1.4 times that of Jupiter. This extreme mass causes the planet to have a very strong gravitational pull, which can crush anything that comes too close. WASP-12b is also tidally locked to its star, which means that one side of the planet always faces the star and the other side is always in darkness. The side of the planet that faces the star is extremely hot, while the side that faces away from the star is extremely cold.
4. TrES-2b
TrES-2b is a planet located about 750 light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco. It is a gas giant, meaning it is composed mostly of gas. TrES-2b is one of the darkest planets ever discovered, with a surface that reflects only about 1% of the light that hits it. This extreme darkness is caused by the planet’s atmosphere, which is composed mostly of methane and carbon dioxide. TrES-2b is also tidally locked to its star, which means that one side of the planet always faces the star and the other side is always in darkness. The side of the planet that faces the star is extremely hot, while the side that faces away from the star is extremely cold.
5. 51 Pegasi b
51 Pegasi b is a planet located about 50 light-years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus. It is a gas giant, meaning it is composed mostly of gas. 51 Pegasi b was the first extrasolar planet ever discovered, and it is still one of the most studied planets outside our solar system. 51 Pegasi b is a very hot planet, with a surface temperature of over 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme heat is caused by the planet’s proximity to its star, which is only about 4 million miles away. 51 Pegasi b is also tidally locked to its star, which means that one side of the planet always faces the star and the other side is always in darkness. The side of the planet that faces the star is extremely hot, while the side that faces away from the star is extremely cold.
These are just a few of the most terrifying and scary planets that exist in our universe. These planets are a reminder that the universe is a vast and mysterious place, and that there are still many things that we don’t know about it.