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Planetary Radio • Jul 22, 2026

Hot Jupiters: The ‘Roasted Planet’ and the wrong-way hotspot

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On This Episode

Tiffany kataria portrait

Tiffany Kataria

Research Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Lisa dang portrait

Lisa Dang

Assistant Professor, University of Waterloo

Bruce betts portrait hq library

Bruce Betts

Chief Scientist / LightSail Program Manager for The Planetary Society

Sarah al ahmed headshot

Sarah Al-Ahmed

Planetary Radio Host and Producer for The Planetary Society

Two hot Jupiters presented at the 248th American Astronomical Society meeting push our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres to the extreme. Research Scientist Tiffany Kataria from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory shares new JWST observations of HD80606 b, the "Roasted Planet,” a gas giant on one of the most eccentric orbits ever discovered. Assistant Professor Lisa Dang of the University of Waterloo joins to discuss CoRoT-2 b, a young, inflated hot Jupiter whose hottest point shows up in an unexpected location on the exoplanet, possibly because the planet hasn't fully tidally locked with its star yet. Then Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins for What's Up to explore atmospheric super-rotation, winds that outrun the worlds they ride on.

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NASA Galaxy of Horrors: The Roasted Planet (HD80606 b)
NASA Galaxy of Horrors: The Roasted Planet (HD80606 b) NASA's Galaxy of Horrors poster depicting HD80606 b, the "Roasted Planet." The illustration shows the exoplanet approaching its star on an extreme elliptical orbit, its atmosphere glowing as it endures flash heating during its closest approach.Image: NASA / JPL-Caltech
Artist's concept of exoplanet HD 80606 b near periastron
Artist's concept of exoplanet HD 80606 b near periastron An illustration of HD 80606 b during its closest approach to its host star. The planet's atmosphere transitions from a searing glow on the star-facing hemisphere to deep darkness on the far side, capturing the extreme flash-heating event discussed in this episode.Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)
Artist's concept of CoRoT-2b
Artist's concept of CoRoT-2b An illustration of hot Jupiter CoRoT-2b, the young, inflated gas giant orbiting an active sun-like star in the constellation Aquila. CoRoT-2b completes a full orbit every 1.7 days and is one of the subjects of this week's episode.Image: NASA
Global view of Venus from Akatsuki
Global view of Venus from Akatsuki This view of Venus was captured during Akatsuki's 13th orbit.Image: JAXA / ISAS / DARTS / Damia Bouic

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