Question 1

True or false: WASP-12b is so close to its star that it completes an orbit in just over one Earth day.

Accepted Answer

True. True. Its orbital period is only 1.1 days, making it one of the hottest exoplanets ever discovered.

Question 2

True or false: WASP-12b was discovered by the WASP project using ground-based transits in 2008.

Accepted Answer

True. WASP-12b was indeed discovered by the WASP (SuperWASP) project via the transit method using ground-based telescopes, announced in 2008.

Question 3

True or false: WASP-12b is being slowly torn apart by its star's gravity, giving it a football-like shape.

Accepted Answer

True. True. Tidal forces stretch it into an elongated spheroid, and material is pulled into the star.

Question 4

True or false: WASP-12b reflects most of the starlight it receives, making it one of the brightest exoplanets.

Accepted Answer

False. False. It's extremely dark, absorbing over 90% of incoming light, blacker than fresh asphalt.

Question 5

True or false: WASP-12b is located in the constellation of Andromeda, visible with a small telescope.

Accepted Answer

False. False. It’s in the constellation Auriga, and it’s far too dim and close to its star to be seen with amateur gear.

Question 6

True or false: WASP-12b was the first exoplanet found to have a carbon-to-oxygen ratio greater than one, indicating a carbon-rich atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

True. In 2011, observations revealed WASP-12b’s atmosphere has a C/O ratio greater than one, challenging existing planet formation models.

Question 7

True or false: WASP-12b was the first exoplanet found to have organic molecules like methane in its atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

False. WASP-12b's atmosphere contains water and carbon monoxide, but no methane was detected. The first exoplanet with methane confirmed was HD 189733b in 2008.

Question 8

True or false: WASP-12b has a carbon-to-oxygen ratio greater than 1, potentially creating diamond-like layers inside.

Accepted Answer

True. True. Its carbon-rich atmosphere suggests a carbon-to-oxygen ratio >1, possibly forming graphite or diamond deep within.

WASP-12b Trivia Questions