A recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters investigates the potential existence of Mars-sized free-floating planets (FFPs)—also known as rogue planets, starless planets, and wandering planets—that could have been captured by our sun's gravity long ago and orbit in the outer solar system approximately 1,400 astronomical units (AU) from the sun. For context, the farthest known planetary body in the solar system is Pluto, which orbits approximately 39 AU from the sun, and is also part of the Kuiper Belt, which scientists estimate extends as far out as 1,000 AU from the sun.

A recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters investigates the potential existence of Mars-sized free-floating planets (FFPs)—also known as rogue planets, starless planets, and wandering planets—that could have been captured by our sun’s gravity long ago and orbit in the outer solar system approximately 1,400 astronomical units (AU) from the sun. For context, the farthest known planetary body in the solar system is Pluto, which orbits approximately 39 AU from the sun, and is also part of the Kuiper Belt, which scientists estimate extends as far out as 1,000 AU from the sun.

  • Cosmic Cleric
    6•11 months ago

    that could have been captured by our sun’s gravity long ago and orbit in the outer solar system approximately 1,400 astronomical units (AU) from the sun.

    I wonder how that works, vis-a-vis the Centauri star system Ort Cloud and our Ort Cloud that are supposed to be starting to mingle together / collide at this point?

    • @[email protected]
      10•11 months ago

      “…the results indicate the potential for the existence of a Mars-sized, or even a Mercury-sized planetary body somewhere in the outer solar system…” Sounds like maybe one?

      • @assembly
        9•11 months ago

        This sentence has me confused, “so if any fraction of them have regions with energy budgets that can support liquid water, “. If they are so far from a star, how would they have any energy budget for liquid water? Wouldn’t they be a complete iceball? In these scenarios, could techtonic activity create enough energy to overcome no external source of energy enough to create an environment with liquid water?

    • @Mango
      3•11 months ago

      I imagine if it was at least 1, someone’s gonna slap a name on it and tell everyone.

  • Cicraft
    5•11 months ago

    I thought planets needed a cleared orbit by definition

    • @chuckleslord
      5•11 months ago

      These wouldn’t be planets formed here, but captured from other solar systems, so different rules apply. Pluto is from here, so it gets no such exception.

      • @itsnotits
        -5•11 months ago

        from other solar systems

        There are no other solar systems. There is only one solar system in the universe — the system of Sol (the Sun).

        • folkrav
          1•11 months ago

          Nobody calls it “Sol” except video games and movies. And while you’re technically right, it’s easily fixed by saying “planetary system” instead. Finally, everyone still understood, which is the whole point of language, so I’d say pointing this out is more pedantry than anything. Which, looking at your comment history, seems to be your thing lol