31 replies to this topic

[Still Waters]

A young “homeless planet”, up to seven times the size of Jupiter and with no gravitational ties, has been spotted by scientists for the very first time.

The lonely planet, called CFBDSIR2149 at the moment, is deemed “homeless” as it does not orbit a star.

It is the first isolated planet of its kind ever to be discovered by scientists, after more than a decade of searching in a process described as “looking for a single needle in amongst thousands of haystacks."

http://www.telegraph...first-time.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk...onment-20309762

Edited by Still Waters, 14 November 2012 - 01:08 PM.
Additional source link added

[Hasina]

The article points out something I was wondering about; is it a planet from a system (star, other planets, etc) or is it a brown dwarf, developed on it's own but didn't have sufficient mass for them to 'ignite' per-say?

[Gravitorbox]

Hasina, on 14 November 2012 - 12:47 PM, said:

The article points out something I was wondering about; is it a planet from a system (star, other planets, etc) or is it a brown dwarf, developed on it's own but didn't have sufficient mass for them to 'ignite' per-say?

It is a planet because it meets all the necessary criteria to be defined as a planet.

Edited by Gravitorbox, 14 November 2012 - 12:50 PM.

[Hasina]

Gravitorbox, on 14 November 2012 - 12:50 PM, said:

It is a planet because it meets all the necessary criteria to be defined as a planet.

But it doesn't orbit a star.

[Darkwind]

Maybe it was thrown out of orbit. Something flying along through the galaxy looking for a nice star to attract it and smack some little planet out of existence. hehehe...

[Hasina]

That's what else I suggested, that would probably make it a planet, since it formed in a system, around a star and then was thrown out. But if it just coalesced out of a small 'cloud' I suppose you could say, out on it's lonesome and became this 'tiny' guy in comparison to stars, would that make it a planet or a brown dwarf?

[Darkwind]

I guess they are going to have to decide on that at the next astronomers convention.

[Mnemonix]

Maybe it will fly into orbit around a star some time.

They should monitor it and maybe the'll witness a star adopting a homeless planet.

[Grey14]

Hasina, on 14 November 2012 - 12:50 PM, said:

But it doesn't orbit a star.

Maybe it's a Dyson Sphere and it is actually a structure encompasing and small star and some highly advance aliens live on the inside surface. Who knows could be a gaint death star on it's way to blow us up.

Either way it's pretty interesting

[the L]

How is that possible?

[Junior Chubb]

Grey14, on 14 November 2012 - 07:39 PM, said:

*snip* image removed

Maybe it's a Dyson Sphere and it is actually a structure encompasing and small star and some highly advance aliens live on the inside surface. Who knows could be a gaint death star on it's way to blow us up.

Either way it's pretty interesting

That's no planet, its a space-station...  

[david_36]

it seems every week there making new discoveries, Its a great time to be alive. very interesting thanks for posting.

[Sean Creaney]

Strange things happening in the Sky's

[Mantis914]

Ok then, how did this planet form?  Since we learned from the theory of smack and form that that's how the moon was formed.  How does that apply to a planet like this?

[zenfahr]

Hasina, on 14 November 2012 - 03:23 PM, said:

That's what else I suggested, that would probably make it a planet, since it formed in a system, around a star and then was thrown out. But if it just coalesced out of a small 'cloud' I suppose you could say, out on it's lonesome and became this 'tiny' guy in comparison to stars, would that make it a planet or a brown dwarf?

I guess that is all dependant on how it formed.  I think that its surface temp is what determines whether or not its a star or planet.