Why do many hot Jupiters orbit much closer to their stars than Mercury does to the Sun?
Quick Answer
Many hot Jupiters likely formed farther out and then migrated inward through interactions with the disk or other planets. Once close in, they are heated to extreme temperatures.
The Full Story
Hot Jupiters are gas giants with very short orbital periods, sometimes just a few days. They probably did not form in their current locations, because gas giants are generally thought to form beyond the snow line where ices can help build large cores. Instead, gravitational interactions with the protoplanetary disk, other planets, or the host star can move them inward. Their discovery in the 1990s, beginning with 51 Pegasi b in 1995, reshaped theories of planet formation.
Key Facts
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"Why do giant planets live right next to their stars?"
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