HATS-71 b is a fascinating exoplanet orbiting the star HATS-71, discovered in 2020 thanks to the clever transit method, where it playfully blocks a bit of its star’s light from our view here on Earth. This discovery was made using a ground-based setup with the trusty Apogee 4K CCD Sensor as part of the HATSouth network, a global team keeping an eye on distant worlds. HATS-71 b is a gas giant, likely puffed up by the warmth of its close star, making it a bit of a cosmic balloon floating far away in the galaxy. While we don’t have its exact distance at our fingertips, what’s clear is that this planet is a delightful reminder of the endless variety of worlds just waiting to be explored beyond our solar neighborhood!
