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Janssen: The Lightning-Fast Exoplanet That Orbits Its Star in Just 18 Hours

Astronomers have long been fascinated by the extremes of our universe—worlds made of diamonds, stars colder than campfires, and planets that orbit so close to their suns that a single year lasts less than a day. Among these extraordinary discoveries is Janssen, an exoplanet known for its incredible orbital speed.

A Planet Locked in a Cosmic Sprint

Janssen—officially named 55 Cancri e—is located about 41 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cancer. What sets it apart from most other known exoplanets is not just its size or composition, but the astonishing speed at which it orbits its parent star, Copernicus (55 Cancri A).

While Earth takes 365 days to complete one orbit, Janssen completes its entire journey in only 18 hours.

This means the planet is racing around its star at speeds far beyond anything experienced in our solar system. Scientists estimate its orbital velocity to be roughly 230 kilometres per second, making it one of the fastest-moving rocky planets ever observed.

Too Close for Comfort

The reason for Janssen’s extreme speed is simple physics: it orbits dangerously close to its star. Its distance from Copernicus is only about 2 million kilometres—less than 1/25th the distance between Mercury and the Sun. At that proximity, gravitational forces are immense, pulling the planet into a tight, rapid orbit.

This closeness also means Janssen likely faces temperatures over 2,000°C, enough to melt rock and metal. Some scientists even believe the planet’s surface could be a churning ocean of lava.

A World of Permanent Day and Night

Janssen is thought to be tidally locked, meaning one side permanently faces the star while the opposite side remains in eternal darkness. This creates extreme temperature differences between the hellish day side and the cooler night side.

Yet, even with such punishing conditions, Janssen’s unusual features have made it one of the most studied exoplanets in the galaxy.

A Window Into Exotic Worlds

The discovery and ongoing observation of Janssen offer crucial clues about how planets form, evolve, and survive under extreme conditions. Its blistering 18-hour orbit highlights the diversity of planetary systems beyond our own and reminds us just how strange the cosmos can be.

While no life could ever survive there, Janssen remains a scientific treasure—a planet in constant motion, sprinting endlessly around its star, pushing the limits of what we know about the universe.

Attached is a news article regarding jenssen exoplanet 55 cancri 

https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/55-cancri-e/

Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley