K2-33b

K2-33b is a Neptune-sized exoplanet discovered orbiting the young star K2-33, located approximately 560 light-years away in the Scorpius-Centaurus association. Its distinguishing feature is its extremely young age, estimated to be between 5 and 10 million years old, making it one of the youngest exoplanets ever discovered.

The planet orbits its host star very closely, with an orbital period of approximately 5.4 days. This proximity results in high temperatures on the planet. The discovery of K2-33b was significant because it provides valuable insights into the early stages of planetary formation and migration. Observing a planet in such a young system allows astronomers to study the processes that shape planetary systems as they emerge from protoplanetary disks. K2-33b was detected using the Kepler space telescope's K2 mission, through the transit method, where the planet's passage in front of its star causes a slight dimming of the star's light.