ultra-hot jupiter

noun

A giant planet, of similar mass to that of Jupiter, which orbits close enough to its sun to become tidally locked, and whose day-side atmosphere has therefore heated up so much, as to break apart most molecules, leaving atomic gas. The day-side atmosphere has the temperature and spectral characteristics of a star's surface.

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Meanings

nounultra-hot jupiter (plural ultra-hot jupiters)

plural ultra-hot jupiters · alternative ultra hot jupiter · alternative ultrahot jupiter · alternative ultra-hot Jupiter · alternative ultra hot Jupiter · alternative ultrahot Jupiter

  1. A giant planet, of similar mass to that of Jupiter, which orbits close enough to its sun to become tidally locked, and whose day-side atmosphere has therefore heated up so much, as to break apart most molecules, leaving atomic gas. The day-side atmosphere has the temperature and spectral characteristics of a star's surface.

Origin

Blend of ultrahot + hot jupiter. From being a type of gas giant planet much hotter than most jupiter-class planets.

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Cite this entry
APA

ultra-hot jupiter. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ultra-hot%20jupiter

MLA

“ultra-hot jupiter.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ultra-hot%20jupiter. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ultra-hot jupiter,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ultra-hot%20jupiter.

Source: ultra-hot jupiter on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.