Discovery date September 25, 2006 Discovery status Published | Discovery site SAAO | |
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WASP-1b is an extrasolar planet orbiting the star WASP-1 located 1,239 light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. In recognition of the regional support given to the project on La Palma, the discoverers gave the planet the alternative designation Garafia-1.
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.