Exoplanet Discoveries and Updates

[The Astronomer]

The multiple impact model probably works best. If we assume that the planet forms near the star, with an ambient temperature that boils away silicon but not metal, this would create a hot iron planet. The challenge then is how to get the planet to its current orbit.

Yeah, now that I've thought about it, getting it into the current orbit is probably as big, or bigger of a problem than how to create it in the first place. Very dense big terrestrial planets are not unheard of, but I assume they require some space.