Which exoplanet was the first discovered around a Sun-like star?
Quick Answer
51 Pegasi b was the first exoplanet found orbiting a Sun-like star, announced in 1995. It was discovered by Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz.
The Full Story
51 Pegasi b is a landmark in astronomy because it was the first confirmed exoplanet discovered around a main-sequence star like the Sun. The discovery was announced in 1995 by Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz. The planet is a hot Jupiter, meaning it is a gas giant orbiting very close to its star. Its detection changed ideas about planetary systems, since giant planets were not expected to form so near their stars. The discovery led to a rapid expansion in exoplanet hunting and earned the discoverers the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Key Facts
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