Astronomers have discovered a massive gas giant exoplanet called WASP-69b that is leaving behind a huge comet-like tail stretching nearly 350,000 miles into space.
Located 160 light-years from Earth, this hot Jupiter orbits extremely close to its star, causing intense stellar winds to strip away its atmosphere. Using the powerful Keck Telescope in Hawaii, scientists observed hydrogen and helium escaping from the planet in real time.
This rare discovery helps researchers understand how stars interact with nearby planets and how planetary atmospheres evolve. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal and provide a unique glimpse into atmospheric loss happening right now.
