Binary Star Systems: Factories of Misaligned Rogue Planets

A new study suggests that misaligned binary star systems could be efficient factories for producing rogue planets. Unlike single-star systems, where planets need to be closely spaced to become rogue, binary systems can generate rogue planets even with widely spaced planets. The gravitational tugs from both stars and other planets in the system can destabilize the orbits of some planets, with the largest planet remaining stable and potentially destabilizing smaller planets. This model suggests that there could be a vast number of smaller, rocky rogue planets adrift in the galaxy, particularly around red dwarf stars. However, finding these planets in the cold darkness of interstellar space remains a challenge.