Over the past year tons of fascinating planets were discovered outside of our solar system; here are some of the most mind-boggling finds.
1. A blue planet that rains glass:
The NASA-discovered planet, HD 189733b, has an Earth-like blue hue; but the color doesn't come from vast oceans. Researchers believe color comes from a "blow torch" effect. The treacherous conditions on the planet include temperatures of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and 4,500-mph winds. Silicate particles in the clouds above drop glass raindrops all over the blazing planet.
2. A super-hot Earth-sized planet:
The planet was discovered by the Kepler telescope, which is where its name Kepler-78b comes from. The planet is "1.2 times the size of Earth and 1.7 times more massive," a NASA news release reported. Researchers believe the blazing-hot planet is made of iron and rock.
3. The smallest alien world ever discovered:
The planet Kepler-37b is only 2,400 miles wide, the Huffington Post reported. This is only marginally bigger than our moon. The planet is located about 215 light-years away and orbits its host star once every 13 days. Researchers believe the planet is far too hot to host life.
4. A hot-pink planet:
"If we could travel to this giant planet, we would see a world still glowing from the heat of its formation with a color reminiscent of a dark cherry blossom, a dull magenta," Michael McElwain, a member of the discovery team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a news release. The planet, GJ 504b, is believed to have a surface temperature of 460 degrees Fahrenheit and its host Sun is hotter than our own.
5. A planet where a year lasts a workday:
The planet, dubbed Kepler 78b, has one of the shortest orbital periods that researchers have ever seen, an MIT news release reported. It completes its orbital "year" once every 8.5 hours. The planet is so hot (5,000 degrees Fahrenheit) that the surface melts, creating a ball of molten lava.
