Kepler-78 b is a sizzling little world orbiting the star Kepler-78, discovered in 2013 by the Kepler space telescope using the transit method. Imagine a planet so close to its star that a year there lasts less than a day by Earth standards—talk about a speedy orbit! This rocky exoplanet is a scorcher, likely boasting blazing surface temperatures that would melt most metals. Despite its fierce environment, Kepler-78 b fascinates scientists because it’s surprisingly Earth-sized, giving us clues about planets beyond our solar system that are small, dense, and wildly different from chilly gas giants. Even without a catchy nickname, this tiny inferno stands out as a fiery gem in the vast cosmic neighborhood explored by Kepler’s watchful eye.
