HAT-P-7b

HAT-P-7b (or Kepler-2b) is an extrasolar planet discovered in 2008. It orbits very close to its host star, and is both larger and more massive than Jupiter. Due to the extreme heat it receives from its star, the dayside temperature is predicted to be 2730+150−100 K.

History
The GSC 03547-01402 system is within the field of view of the Kepler Mission spacecraft, which confirmed the transit and orbital properties of the planet with significantly improved confidence and observed occupational and light curve characteristics consistent with a strongly absorbing atmosphere with limited advection to the night side. In testing itself on HAT-P-7b, Kepler proved it was sensitive enough to detect Earth-like planets.

In August 2009, it was announced that HAT-P-7b may have a retrograde orbit, based upon measurements of the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect. This announcement came only a day after the announcement of the first planet discovered with such an orbit, WASP-17b.

In January 2010, it was announced that ellipsoidal light variations were detected for HAT-P-7b, the first detection of such kind. This method analyses the brightness variation caused by the rotation of a star as its shape tidally distorted by the planet.

On July 4, 2011, HAT-P-7b was the subject of the Hubble Space Telescope's one millionth science observation.