This planet, detected in 1999 and studied in greater detail earlier this year, is probably doomed. It orbits too close to its host star and is loosing mass at a fast clip.

The planet, called HD209458b, is somewhat like Jupiter. Its gas is so hot, though, that it simply evaporates into space. And because the planet is in a tight orbit, the star's gravity plays a bigger role, contributing to the shrinking of the world.