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An introduction to exoplanets

This is an artist’s impression of the disintegrating exoplanet Kepler-1520 b. This is thought to be a rocky planet that is so close to its star that its surface is being vaporised by the intense heating from the star light. The vaporised rock contains dust, and the material streams out forming a long comet-like tail.

 4.3  The disintegrating one: Kepler-1520 b