| Extrasolarplanet: | yes |
| WASP-104b | |
| Apsis: | astron |
| Discovered: | 2014 |
| Discovery Method: | transit |
| Eccentricity: | 0.014 |
| Period: | 1.75540646 d |
| Mean Radius: | 1.094 |
| Mass: | 1.205 |
WASP-104b is a hot Jupiter exoplanet that orbits the star WASP-104. It is considered to be one of the darkest exoplanets discovered.[1] [2] WASP-104b was discovered in 2014; according to a 2018 study at Keele University, the planet's dense atmosphere of potassium and sodium absorbs more than 97% of light it receives.[1]
Researchers have considered WASP-104b to be one of the darkest exoplanets ever discovered.[1] [3] In 2018, scientists from Keele University said the exoplanet's thick sodium and potassium atmosphere can absorb more than 97% of the light that falls on it.[1] A paper published by Cornell University Library describes the exoplanet as "darker than charcoal" and "one of the least reflective planets found to date", even darker than WASP-12b which absorbs 94% of it receives.[1] The only other exoplanet thought to be darker than WASP-104b is TrES-2b.[1] Its reflectance has been compared with that of WASP-12b despite being somewhat darker.[4]
In 2020, a transmission spectroscopy study has indicated that WASP-104b has a red-colored cloud deck and possibly hazes.
WASP-104b's size is comparable to that of Jupiter; its mass and radius are 1.272 times and 1.137 times greater than Jupiter's, respectively. It has 12.5 times the mass of Earth and a low density, and may be composed of gas.[5]
WASP-104b is the only known exoplanet to orbit WASP-104, a 3-billion-year-old G8 star. WASP-104b's orbital period is 1.8 days; it is located 2.6 million miles from its star and has an orbital radius of 0.02918AU.[5] WASP-104 and its planet are located 466 light years away from the Sun in the constellation Leo.[5] [1] [6]