Exoplanet
Scientists have discovered that a new medium-sized planet is vanishing at a faster rate than others. Pictured: A hand out image made available by the European Southern Observatory on August 24 2016, shows an artist's impression of the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Solar System. Getty Images/M. Kornmesser

NASA has shared details of a mysterious world that has been regarded as the darkest exoplanet ever discovered. It was introduced as part of the agency’s Galaxy of Horrors, an educational campaign that highlights some of the most inhospitable exoplanets.

The dark exoplanet has been identified as TrES-2B. According to NASA, TrES-2B is an extrasolar planet, which means it lies beyond the Solar System. Observations on the exoplanet revealed that it orbits a host star located about 750 light-years away from Earth’s neighborhood.

NASA’s scientists noted that TrES-2B is a gas giant and has a composition similar to that of Jupiter. However, unlike Jupiter, TrES-2B orbits very close to its host star, making the planet extremely uninhabitable due to its environmental and atmospheric conditions.

According to NASA, TrES-2B is a very dark exoplanet and only reflects about 1 percent of the light that hits it. As noted by the agency, only pitch-black darkness can be seen inside the planet. In addition to its darkness, the planet is very inhospitable due to its air temperature.

“Welcome to TrES-2B, the planet of eternal night,” NASA stated. “The darkest planet ever discovered orbiting a star, this alien world is less reflective than coal. Inside its atmosphere, you’d be flying blind in the dark.”

“Some scientists think an eerie deep red glow would emanate from its burning atmosphere – the air of this planet is as hot as lava,” the agency added.

NASA unveiled TrES-2B as part of its Galaxy of Horrors project. Launched in October, the project provides entertaining and educational facts regarding the most dangerous planets ever discovered. Aside from details about exoplanets, the project also features posters that were heavily influenced by classic horror movies.

In addition to TrES-2b, Galaxy of Horrors also feature exoplanets that NASA dubbed as zombie worlds. According to the agency, these exoplanets orbit an undead host star known as a pulsar. These worlds are extremely inhospitable due to the high levels of radiation emanating from the star’s core.

NASA also featured a planet that’s being stretched and consumed by the strong gravitational pull of a nearby star. The pull from the star has caused the planet’s shape to dramatically change.

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