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

False. False. It was actually discovered in 2008, but by the SuperWASP project, which is a ground-based transit survey. This statement is true—tricky! Actually it is true. Correction: it is true.

Question 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

True or false: The atmosphere of WASP-12b contains vaporized titanium and vanadium, creating exotic clouds.

Accepted Answer

True. True. Its extreme heat (over 2500°C) vaporizes metals like titanium and vanadium, forming high-altitude clouds.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

False. False. It was the first to have carbon monoxide and water, but not methane—that was later claimed for other planets.

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