Where is the orbital range of a Hot Jupiter generally located relative to Mercury in our Solar System?
Answer
Inside the orbit of Mercury
The definition of a Hot Jupiter hinges critically on its extreme proximity to its parent star, placing it firmly within the region typically occupied by small, rocky planets in a standard solar system configuration. Specifically, these gas giants are characterized by orbiting inside the orbital path of Mercury, our Solar System's innermost planet. Mercury orbits the Sun at approximately 0.39 AU, and Hot Jupiters generally maintain orbital distances significantly smaller than this, often found below 0.5 AU. This positioning is what subjects them to such intense heat and radiation, fundamentally contrasting with the frigid, outer environment where Jupiter itself coalesced.
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