WASP-60

WASP-60 is a G1V-type star located approximately 1300 light-years away in the constellation Sextans. It is notable for hosting an exoplanet, WASP-60b.

Stellar Characteristics:

WASP-60 is a main-sequence star, similar to our Sun, but slightly larger and more massive. Its effective temperature is around 5920 K, making it a yellow-white star. It is estimated to be several billion years old. WASP-60 is also known to be relatively metal-rich compared to the Sun, which influences the likelihood of planet formation around the star.

Planetary System:

WASP-60 hosts one known exoplanet, WASP-60b.

WASP-60b: This is a hot Jupiter, a type of gas giant exoplanet that orbits very close to its host star. WASP-60b has a mass approximately half that of Jupiter and orbits WASP-60 with a period of roughly 4.3 days. Due to its proximity to the star, WASP-60b is extremely hot, with an estimated equilibrium temperature of over 1500 K. It was discovered through the transit method, where the planet passes in front of the star, causing a slight dip in the star's brightness.

Discovery:

WASP-60 and its planet were discovered by the Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) project, a survey that uses wide-field cameras to monitor the brightness of thousands of stars in search of transiting exoplanets. The discovery was made using data from the SuperWASP-North telescope located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma, Canary Islands.

Significance:

WASP-60b contributes to the ongoing study of hot Jupiters, helping astronomers understand the formation, migration, and atmospheric properties of these extreme exoplanets. Observing these planets allows for better understanding of planet formation models and the diversity of planetary systems beyond our own. Further observations and characterization of the WASP-60 system are expected to refine our knowledge of exoplanetary atmospheres and the environments in which these planets exist.