What is Pollux b?
'''Pollux b''', (also known as '''Beta Geminorum b''' and '''HD 62509 b''', formally named '''Thestias'''), is an [[extrasolar planet]] about 34 [[Light year|light years]] away in the [[constellation]] of [[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]]. This planet was discovered orbiting the star [[Pollux (star)|Pollux]] in 2006 by the astronomer, [[Artie P. Hatzes]], confirming his [[hypothesis]] originally published in 1993. The planet has twice the [[Jupiter mass|mass of Jupiter]]. It moves around its star in 1.61 years at a distance of 1.64 [[Astronomical unit|AU]] in a nearly circular orbit. [[File:Pólux_B.jpg|thumb|Pollux B]] In July 2014 the [[International Astronomical Union]] (IAU) launched [[NameExoWorlds]], a process for giving proper names to certain [[Extrasolar planet|extrasolar planets]] and their host stars.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International Astronomical Union {{!}} IAU|url=https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1404/|access-date=2022-11-17|website=www.iau.org}}</ref> The process involved public nomination and voting for the new names.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-08-15|title=NameExoWorlds|url=http://nameexoworlds.iau.org/process|access-date=2022-11-17|archive-date=2015-08-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815025117/http://nameexoworlds.iau.org/process|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2015, the IAU announced the winning name was Thestias for this planet.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International Astronomical Union {{!}} IAU|url=https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1514/|access-date=2022-11-17|website=www.iau.org}}</ref> The winning name was based on that originally submitted by [[theSkyNet]] of [[Australia]]; specifically [[Leda]], Pollux's mother in [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]]. At the request of the IAU, 'Thestias' (the [[Patronymic|patronym]] of Leda, a daughter of [[Thestius]]) was substituted. This was because 'Leda' was already attributed to an asteroid known as [[38 Leda]] and to one of Jupiter's satellites known as [[Leda (moon)|Leda]].<ref>{{Cite web|d