KELT-3b

KELT-3b is a hot Jupiter exoplanet orbiting the star KELT-3, located approximately 570 light-years away in the constellation Perseus. Discovered in 2012 by the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT) survey, it's characterized by its short orbital period and high temperature.

KELT-3b has a mass of approximately 28 times that of Jupiter, making it a very massive planet. Its radius is about 1.4 times Jupiter's radius. This combination of high mass and relatively large radius results in a low density for a planet of its size.

The planet orbits its host star very closely, with an orbital period of only 2.7 days. This proximity leads to extreme heating of the planet's atmosphere, placing it firmly within the "hot Jupiter" category. Estimated temperatures on the planet's dayside reach well over 2000 Kelvin.

Because of its frequent transits across its host star, KELT-3b is a valuable target for atmospheric characterization studies. Researchers use transit spectroscopy to analyze the light from the star as it passes through the planet's atmosphere, revealing information about the atmospheric composition. Studies have detected elements such as sodium and potassium in its atmosphere.

KELT-3b also presents an interesting case for studying tidal interactions between the planet and its host star. The planet's close proximity likely causes significant tidal forces, potentially influencing the star's rotation rate.