Quote:
Originally Posted by William
The planet in question is estimated to be roughly ½ the size of Jupiter, with an orbit that is approximately one sixth the distance from Mercury to the sun.
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Nitpick: The minimum mass of the planet is half the mass of Jupiter. It is probably Jupiter-sized (unless it is a "puffed-up" planet). But since it is not transiting (inclination 90°), we don't know big it is or what its actual mass is (the actual mass increases when the inclination decreases; at 0° we would see the system above its pole).
Quote:
Originally Posted by William
The question I have is: What mechanism allows a gaseous planet to form in this close orbit?
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As
t@nn said, it is believed that hot Jupiters migrate beyond the snow line (the line in protoplanetary disk beyond which water ice can form). There are no known mechanisms which could explain how such giant planet could form so close to its star.