Description
We report the discovery of WASP-103 b, a new ultra-short-period planet (P=22.2h) transiting a 12.1 V-magnitude F8-type main-sequence star (1.22+/-0.04M_{sun}_, 1.44_-0.03_^+0.05^R_{sun}_, Teff=6110+/-160K). WASP-103 b is significantly more massive (1.49+/-0.09M_Jup_) and larger (1.53_-0.07_^+0.05^R_Jup_) than Jupiter. Its large size and extreme irradiation (~9x10^9^erg/s/cm2) make it an exquisite target for a thorough atmospheric characterization with existing facilities. Furthermore, its orbital distance is less than 20% larger than its Roche radius, meaning that it might be significantly distorted by tides and might experience mass loss through Roche-lobe overflow. It thus represents a new key object for understanding the last stage of the tidal evolution of hot Jupiters.
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