WASP-79b
A hazy hot Jupiter with a polar orbit and iron hydride atmosphere.
WASP-79b, also known as Pollera, is a very large hot Jupiter exoplanet orbiting the F-type dwarf star WASP-79 (Montuno) in the constellation Eridanus, approximately 780 light-years from Earth. It is among the largest exoplanets discovered, though its size remains uncertain.
Quick Facts
- Discoverer
- Smalley et al.
- Discovered
- June 1 2012
- Discovery Method
- Transit method
- Apsis
- astron
- Eccentricity
- 0
- Period
- 3.66239094 · (60) days
- Star
- WASP-79
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
WASP-79b was discovered via the transit method and named Pollera through the NameExoWorlds campaign by Panama during the 100th anniversary of the IAU. The name refers to the traditional costume worn by women in the Panamanian dance 'El Punto'. Its host star, WASP-79, is named Montuno after the male costume in the same dance. The planet orbits its star in a nearly polar orbit, with an inclination of −95.2° relative to the star's equatorial plane. The discovery paper estimated the planet's radius at approximately 300,000 kilometers across and a temperature of 1,900 ± 50 K, but modern studies give a lower radius and temperature. In 2019 and 2020, transmission spectra from the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes revealed a hazy atmosphere containing about 1% water and traces of iron(I) hydride. The presence of iron hydride was confirmed in 2021, along with a tentative detection of vanadium oxide. In 2022, atmospheric sodium was detected.
Reader's Guide
WASP-79b is significant as one of the largest exoplanets known, though its exact size is debated between the initial discovery estimate and later studies. Its nearly polar orbit is unusual and provides insight into planetary migration and dynamical interactions. The detection of iron(I) hydride in its atmosphere—confirmed in 2021—is a rare finding, as this molecule is typically associated with cooler stellar atmospheres. The tentative detection of vanadium oxide adds to the chemical complexity of hot Jupiter atmospheres. The presence of sodium, detected in 2022, further characterizes the atmospheric composition. The planet's hazy atmosphere, with only about 1% water, challenges simple models of cloud-free hot Jupiters. The naming of both the planet and its star after traditional Panamanian costumes highlights the cultural connection fostered by the NameExoWorlds campaign. WASP-79b serves as a benchmark for studying atmospheric chemistry and orbital dynamics in extreme hot Jupiters.
Did You Know?
- WASP-79b is also called Pollera, after the traditional Panamanian dance costume.
- Its atmosphere contains iron(I) hydride, confirmed in 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WASP-79b (Pollera)?
It is a massive hot Jupiter that circles the F-type star WASP-79, nicknamed Montuno, roughly 780 light-years away in the constellation Eridanus. Fans often call it Pollera, and it ranks among the biggest exoplanets ever detected.
What makes WASP-79b's orbit unusual?
Its inclination sits near −95.2°, so the planet essentially tumbles through a near-polar path around its host star instead of skimming the equatorial plane. That tilted trajectory is precisely what lets Earth-based observers catch the transits that revealed the planet.
What is in WASP-79b's atmosphere?
Spectroscopic work points to a hazy envelope containing roughly one percent water vapor, sodium, and the unusual iron(I) hydride, with vanadium oxide only tentatively detected. The whole shroud hovers around 1,900 K, making it a scorching, cloud-wrapped world.
How big is WASP-79b, exactly?
It is consistently listed as one of the largest exoplanets ever found, yet its precise radius still carries meaningful uncertainty in the published measurements. So while it is undeniably enormous, the exact figure remains a point of discussion among researchers.
Why does WASP-79b matter to the exoplanet community?
Its nearly polar orbit, extreme size, and the presence of iron hydride in its atmosphere together make it a rare test case for models of giant-planet formation and atmospheric chemistry. Fans and scientists alike keep an eye on it because each new observation can reshape what we think we know about hot Jupiters.
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