US EditionRogue Planet Mass and Distance Measured for First Time
Combining Earth- and space-based observations, astronomers measured a rogue planet’s Saturn-like mass and distance, revealing clues about its origin and planetary system ejection.
- In a new study published in Science on Thursday, Subo Dong's team measured a free-floating planet's mass at about 22 percent of Jupiter and its distance at 9,785 light-years.
- Using simultaneous space‑ and ground‑based microlensing observations, the researchers combined Earth and Gaia space telescope views to produce a microlensing parallax that enabled mass and distance calculations.
- The initial microlensing was detected by multiple ground telescopes in Chile, South Africa, and Australia, and Gaia, about 1.5 million kilometers away, also observed it, researchers say.
- Researchers say the measured mass suggests the object was born in a planetary system and was later ejected, and having a measured mass helps estimate masses for other free‑floating planets, Udalski said.
- With NASA's Roman telescope due in 2027, scientists say its ability to survey 1,000 times faster than Hubble could identify hundreds of rogue planets, accelerating future surveys and mission planning.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Astronomers measure both mass and distance of a rogue planet for the first time
While most planets that we are familiar with stick relatively close to their host star in a predictable orbit, some planets seem to have been knocked out of their orbits, floating through space free of any particular gravitational attachments. Astronomers refer to these lonely planets as "free-floating" or "rogue" planets.
Joint ground- and space-based observations reveal Saturn-mass rogue planet
Simultaneous ground- and space-based observations of a newly discovered free-floating planet have enabled direct measurement of its mass and distance from Earth, according to a new study. The findings offer insights into the diverse and dynamic pathways by which planets can be cast adrift into interstellar space. Although studies to date have only revealed a handful of such free-floating planets, detections are expected to increase in the coming…
A planet, almost as heavy as Saturn, is moving alone through the universe – without a star, without a fixed course. How did it become a loner? And how do you even detect such objects in space?
He still has the bulky name KMT-2024-BLG-0792/OGLE-2024- BLG-0516 and was once thrown out of his orbit around a star. Because a space telescope accidentally spotted him, his mass is now even known.
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