Planetary Ideas Defied by Rogue Worlds
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Quanta Magazine
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have discovered an unexpected abundance of Jupiter-mass binary objects (JUMBOs) in the Orion nebula. These pairs of Jupiter-like objects were previously thought to be highly unlikely, as they couldn't be planets kicked out of a stellar system or stars themselves. The discovery has caught experts off guard, as existing theories did not predict the existence of such wide, free-floating planetary objects. However, caution is advised as some of the JUMBOs may be mirages caused by the dusty environment of the nebula. Further observations will be conducted to confirm the reality of these JUMBOs. Theoretical astrophysicists are already working on explanations for these perplexing worlds, with simulations suggesting that the ejection of pairs of Jupiters is possible under certain conditions.