Watery exoplanet’s skies suggest unexpected origin story
HAT-P-26b formed close to its star and wasn’t bombarded by rocks, study hints
![HAT-P-26b illsutration](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/051117_AY_exoplanet_neptune_main_ALT_FREE.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
WET AND WILD The exoplanet HAT-P-26b, illustrated here, has relatively low levels of heavy elements in its atmosphere, compared with those found in Neptune's atmosphere. As a result, the exoplanet may have had a different origin story than ice giants in our solar system.
NASA/GSFC