TIC 241249530 b Orbital Comparison Illustration

This illustration shows the orbit of the newly discovered Jupiter-like exoplanet named TIC 241249530 b, shown in comparison to the orbits of Mercury and Earth in our own Solar System. TIC 241249530 b follows one of the most stretched-out orbits of any transiting exoplanet known and also orbits its host star backwards, meaning in the direction opposite the star’s rotation. If this planet was part of our Solar System its orbit would stretch from its closest approach ten times closer to the Sun than Mercury all the way out to its most distant extent at Earth’s distance. This extreme orbit would cause temperatures on the planet to vary between that of a summer’s day to hot enough to melt titanium.