astronomy

WASP-104b

WASP-104b is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand WASP-104b rather than just read about it. In short: WASP-104b is a hot Jupiter exoplanet that orbits the star WASP-104. It is considered to be one of the darkest exoplanets discovered.

Key takeaways

WASP-104b belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect WASP-104b to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of WASP-104b from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

WASP-104b is a hot Jupiter exoplanet that orbits the star WASP-104. It is considered to be one of the darkest exoplanets discovered. 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.

Characteristics Researchers have considered WASP-104b to be one of the darkest exoplanets ever discovered. 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. 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. The only other exoplanet thought to be darker than WASP-104b is TrES-2b. Its reflectance has been compared with that of WASP-12b despite being somewhat darker. 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. 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 0.02918 astronomical units (2,712,000 miles). WASP-104 and its planet are located 466 light years away from the Sun in the constellation Leo.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with WASP-104b

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what WASP-104b claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to WASP-104b before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about WASP-104b ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of WASP-104b

In research: WASP-104b appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses WASP-104b in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: WASP-104b is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Exoplanets discovered by WASP, Exoplanets discovered in 2014, Hot Jupiters, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for WASP-104b outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study WASP-104b in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what WASP-104b means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain WASP-104b out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is WASP-104b in simple terms?

WASP-104b is a hot Jupiter exoplanet that orbits the star WASP-104. It is considered to be one of the darkest exoplanets discovered.

Why does WASP-104b matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study WASP-104b?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on WASP-104b.