Star Devours Hottest Known Alien Planet

[mickw]

The hottest known planet in our galaxy is being stretched into the shape of a football and rapidly consumed by its parent star, new observations from the Hubble Space Telescope show.

The extrasolar planet on the cosmic menu, called WASP-12b, may only have another 10 million years left before it is completely devoured, Hubble scientists announced Thursday.

WASP-12b is so close to its sun-like star that it is superheated to nearly 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit and stretched into an elongated shape by enormous tidal forces

More:   Space.com

[Ian]

shape of a football? You mean round? Hmm, I wonder if these confused colonials are referring to a rugby ball?

[Mike]

Typical Septic Tanks bastardising the English language.

[MarkS]

The American game they call "football" is played by men with elongated balls

[Carole]

is played by men with elongated balls

Interesting!

[Ian]

The American game they call "football" is played by men with elongated balls

caused by overtightening of the jockstrap apparently. Or it might be just because they're easier to hold when throwing, not sure which

[mickw]

So if you Yank your balls they get elongated