Newly Found Ocean World HD 176071 b Is Doomed to Be Devoured by Its Star
Astronomers have identified a new exoplanet, HD 176071 b, located 335 light-years away, which is composed of roughly 50% water. Orbiting extremely close to its host star with a 14-hour year, the planet is subject to intense tidal forces that will inevitably cause it to be swallowed by the star. This discovery is notable because the planet retains a dynamic atmosphere despite residing in the 'Neptunian Desert,' a region where such worlds typically lose their gaseous layers due to stellar radiation.