Astronomers Discover Pairs of Free-Floating Objects with Masses Close to Jupiter
Epoch Times reporter Chen Juncun reported on February 14, 2024, that astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the study of celestial bodies. They have found pairs of free-floating objects with masses close to Jupiter that are drawn into each other’s orbits. This discovery challenges existing theories of star and planet formation and provides a new understanding of these rare celestial systems.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory issued a press release on February 12, highlighting the significance of this discovery. In the solar system, planets are attracted to orbit around the sun. But what happens to planet-sized objects that do not orbit a star? This question has led astronomers to study the “Jupiter-mass binary object” (JuMBO) in the Orion Nebula.
Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory, astronomers were able to observe these giant, free-floating objects with high sensitivity. They found that these objects are drawn into each other’s orbits, providing new insights into these rare celestial systems.
Last year, European Space Agency astrophysicists Samuel Pearson and Mark McCaughrean discovered 40 JuMBOs. However, astronomers were only able to detect one pair of objects, JuMBO 24, using radio spectrum observations. The radio luminosity of these objects was found to be higher than that detected in brown dwarfs, leading to a challenge to established theories of star and planet formation.
Luis F. Rodriguez, an emeritus professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico who participated in the study, emphasized the importance of the research. He noted that the discovery raises questions about the potential habitability of exoplanets and offers opportunities for further exploration of the universe.
The press release concluded that the detection of radio waves from this pair of floating objects represents a major milestone in the exploration of the universe and provides an opportunity to further study the potential habitability of exoplanets. The research results have been published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
This groundbreaking discovery sheds new light on the nature of free-floating celestial bodies and shows that there is still much to learn about the formation and behavior of objects in our universe.