WASP-1b

WASP-1b is an extrasolar planet orbiting the star WASP-1 located 1,300 light-years away in the constellation Andromeda.

Orbit and mass


The planet's mass and radius indicate that it is a gas giant with a similar bulk composition to Jupiter. Unlike Jupiter, but similar to many other planets detected around other stars, WASP-1b is located very close to its star, and belongs to the class of planets known as hot Jupiters.

WASP-1 b was discovered via the transit method by SuperWASP, for which the star and planet are named. Follow-up radial velocity measurements confirmed the presence of an unseen companion, and allowed for the mass of WASP-1 b to be determined.

In 2018, it was discovered via observations of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect that the orbit of WASP-1b is strongly misaligned with rotational axis of the star by 79.0$$ degrees, making it a nearly "polar" orbit.