A multinational team of planetary scientists has made the groundbreaking discovery of a significant “rogue planet” located within the central regions of the Milky Way, a staggering 9,900 light-years from Earth. Comparable in scale to Saturn, this discovery has confirmed that massive planets can occasionally exit the systems where they formed, researchers highlight in the journal Science. This object falls into the mass range previously referred to by astronomers as the “Einstein Desert,” where it was believed planets with masses exceeding Earth’s rarely got ejected beyond their stellar systems. In contrast to other known “rogue planets” that are less massive than Neptune, this new object stands out uniquely in its characteristics.
The discovery was made as part of the OGLE project, led by Andrzej Udalski, director of the Warsaw University Observatory. The project focuses on searching for gravitational microlenses created by dim or invisible objects. Among these objects, astronomers have identified several “rogue planets.” The exact origin of these bodies remains unknown: some scientists consider them to be ejected planets, while others believe they could be very cold brown dwarfs or “failed” low-mass stars.
In recent developments, OGLE has strengthened its position as a leading project in the detection of rogue planets. Not long ago, it helped refine the methodology used to distinguish between these free-floating planets and other celestial bodies, providing more clarity into their enigmatic nature. The ongoing research endeavors continue to push the boundaries of our understanding of planetary formation and migration.
