Hot new planet sizzles at 7,820F

SCIEnTISTS have discovered the hottest planet in the known universe – with a surface temperature of around 7,820F.

This is more than 2,000F hotter than the previous record-holder. The scorching temperature makes the planet ‘puff up like a souffle’ according to scientists.

The planet, known as KELT-9b, is 650 light years away from Earth. Because of its harsh environment, molecules such as water and carbon dioxide cannot form on the planet – and it is so close to its star that a year on the KELT-9b is just a day and a half long.

The planet was discovered using telescopes in the US and South Africa. Professor Scott Gaudi, who led the team, said ‘KELT-9b ... provides a kind of touchstone for understanding how planetary systems form around hot, massive stars’.