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  • The K2-33 system and its planet in comparison to our own solar system. The planet is on a five-day orbit, whereas Mercury orbits our Sun in 88 days. The planet is also nearly ten times closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.

    The K2-33 system and its planet in comparison to our own solar system. The planet is on a five-day orbit, whereas Mercury orbits our Sun in 88 days. The planet is also nearly ten times closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.

    NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt
  • K2-33 b, shown in this illustration, is one of the youngest exoplanets detected to date and makes a complete orbit around its star in about five days. These two characteristics combined provide new constraints for planet formation theories. K2-33 b could have formed farther out and quickly migrated inward. Alternatively, it could have formed in situ, or in place.

    K2-33 b, shown in this illustration, is one of the youngest exoplanets detected to date and makes a complete orbit around its star in about five days. These two characteristics combined provide new constraints for planet formation theories. K2-33 b could have formed farther out and quickly migrated inward. Alternatively, it could have formed in situ, or in place.

    NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt