51 Pegasus b - NASA Visions of the Future

In 1995, scientists discovered 51 Pegasi b and changed the way we see the universe and our place in it forever.

There is debate over which exoplanet was discovered is considered the "first," one stands out from the rest. The exoplanet is about half the mass of Jupiter, with a seemingly impossible, star-hugging orbit of only 4.2 Earth days. Not only was it the first planet confirmed to orbit a sun-like star, it also ushered in a whole new class of planets called Hot Jupiters: hot, massive planets orbiting closer to their stars than Mercury. Today, powerful observatories like NASA's Kepler space telescope will continue the hunt of distant planets.

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A creative team of visual strategists at JPL, known as "The Studio," created this image as part of the "Visions of the Future." poster series.

Image Credits: Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech



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