The new space observatory sees pairs of Jupiter-sized objects floating free between the stars.

Jupiter-sized “planets” free-floating in space, unconnected to any star, have been spotted by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

  • @Edgelord_Of_Tomorrow
    5•1 year ago

    This is absolutely nuts. We really need a better name for these than “planets”.

    • rusty
      3•1 year ago

      Gigatoid or Megatoid (like meteroid, asteroid and planetoid) would be easy to understand and cool

  • @Luvs2Spuj
    2•1 year ago

    This is amazing. But also, how do we know they are not in orbit? Don’t you have to observe something for a long time to know that?

    • @SalamendaciousOP
      3•1 year ago

      My knowledge of astrophysics is nearly null but my guess would be based on its size and hypothetical mass scientists would know how massive a celestial body would have to be in order for the rogue planets to be trapped by its gravity and if there aren’t any bodies of that size in the vicinity then they can conclude they are rogue.

      I could be 100% wrong though.