Scientists Find Unprecedented Lemon-Shaped Planet That Shouldn’t Exist
Study Finds | December 18, 2025 | Michael Zhang (University of Chicago)Nothing about this planet makes sense. And that’s both confounding and exciting for astronomers.
In A Nutshell
* Astronomers discovered a Jupiter-sized planet with an atmosphere unlike anything seen before, dominated by carbon molecules in ratios that defy current planetary formation theories.
* The planet orbits a pulsar (a dead star’s ultra-dense core) every 7.8 hours and is blasted with gamma rays, heating its atmosphere to nearly 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit while stretching it into a lemon shape.
* The carbon-to-oxygen ratio exceeds 100 to 1, and carbon-to-nitrogen tops 10,000 to 1—numbers so extreme that no known planet orbiting a normal star comes close, leaving scientists without an explanation for how it formed.
* The planet’s unusual heating from gamma rays creates powerful westward winds and dramatic temperature differences between its day and night sides, making it a unique laboratory for studying atmospheres under extreme conditions.
“Oh — and did we mention it’s lemon-shaped?”
What Would You Expect To Find on a Lemon-Shaped Planet?
Lots and lots of Lemon Drop Martinis….and a Ford Edsel or two.
One Little Pig and a really well built house.
A burning climate change activist giving a burning SUV the finger. And a greasy spot where Rosie O’Donnell moved to.
Ideally, but briefly, Rosie O’Donnell with that sucking on a lemon expression.
The old DQ logo, aka the red lemon.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%2Fid%2FOIP.5q4HV822ZCZ2vwd_0XjhbgHaEK%3Fpid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=5119a9e8e4b9b06cc9bce8bda4b6cf987d7292425b6c8654112993ff037cb008&ipo=images
Too many seeds?
Scotty and Chekhov busting out the tequila and salt.
Los of trees. Very pretty.
A sour puss.
A Juke Box with songs by Trini Lopez, Led Zeppelin, and the Lemon Pipers.
My old Chevette.
Global bureaucrats waiting to pounce on the first kid to open up a planet-ade stand, wanting to skim off taxes.
Zest, for life…
Some seriously messed up orbital mechanics…