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Astronomers find 2 gigantic planets lighter than cotton candy: "Comparable to a nice blob of shaving foam"

Astronomers have discovered two enormous planets that are astonishingly light, comparable to cotton candy.

By · Published June 28, 2026  23:33 UTC · Updated July 6, 2026  23:06 UTC

13sources
14articles
13velocity
+0%since first seen
125d agofirst detected
Text:
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13distinct sources shown
40velocity measurements
1language editions checked
All brief claims passed the second-source checkbrief evidence status

Measured timeline

📍 Where it landed

Researchers used NASA's TESS spacecraft to discover two super-puff planets in one system located 1,113 light-years away. These gas giants were described as the biggest super-puff planets yet and lighter than cotton candy.

The story quieted without a definitive conclusion in the coverage.

Epilogue added 113d ago, after coverage quieted.

The story so far

⚡ Executive Intelligence Takeaways Corroborated across 13 independent newsrooms
  • Velocity & Diffusion: Coverage exploded across 13 distinct news outlets with 14 published articles, achieving a live velocity of 13.
  • Primary Driver: Astronomers have discovered two enormous planets that are astonishingly light, comparable to cotton candy.
  • Predictive Outlook: Archynetys algorithmic models forecast this story will fade from trending status over the next 24 hours.
  • Source Integrity: Verified strictly against primary headline reporting under zero-hallucination protocols.

Astronomers have identified two super-puff planets that are significantly lighter than expected for their size. These planets, located 1,113 light-years away, are described as having a density similar to cotton candy or shaving foam. Coverage from outlets like ScienceDaily, Los Angeles Times, and Yahoo emphasizes the rarity and unique characteristics of these planets.

The discoveries were made using NASA's TESS spacecraft. IFLScience and Engadget highlight the planets' massive size, comparable to Jupiter, but with masses only 10-20 times that of Earth. Watch for further analysis on the composition and formation of these super-puff planets.

Additional details on the international team involved in the discovery may also emerge.

Synthesized by Archynetys from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 121d ago.

The obvious questions

What are super-puff planets?

Super-puff planets are a type of exoplanet characterized by their extremely low density, making them much lighter than typical gas giants of similar size.

How were these planets discovered?

The planets were discovered using NASA's TESS spacecraft, which is designed to search for exoplanets by monitoring changes in stellar brightness.

Why are these planets significant?

These planets are significant due to their unusual density, which challenges current understanding of planetary formation and composition.

The reporting (14)

Velocity

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Topics

Super-Puff Planets NASA TESS Exoplanets Astronomy Cotton Candy Planets Space Discovery

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