The Euclid space telescope has unveiled the existence of seven additional rogue planets, shedding light on these dark, solitary worlds that drift through the universe untethered to any star.
Unlike Earth, which orbits the Sun, these rogue planets experience neither days nor years, existing in a state of perpetual night.
Despite their isolation, scientists speculate that these planets could potentially harbor life. It is estimated that there may be trillions of such planets scattered throughout the Milky Way galaxy.
The European Space Agency recently released the Euclid telescope’s first set of scientific findings since its launch in July. Among these groundbreaking discoveries were seven new free-floating planets, identified as gas giants with masses at least four times that of Jupiter.
These planets were detected within the Orion Nebula, the closest star-forming region to Earth, situated approximately 1,500 light years away. In addition to these new discoveries, Euclid confirmed the existence of dozens of other previously identified rogue planets.
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Spanish astronomer Eduardo Martin, the lead author of a pre-print study discussing these findings, suggested that this discovery is likely just the “tip of the iceberg.”
Martin explained to AFP that detecting rogue planets, which do not reflect the light of a star, is akin to “finding a needle in a haystack.” However, younger planets, such as those discovered by Euclid, are relatively hotter, making them somewhat easier to spot.
The discovery of these rogue planets not only highlights the capabilities of the Euclid telescope but also opens up new avenues for understanding the complexities of planetary formation and the potential for life beyond our solar system. As the search continues, scientists remain optimistic about uncovering even more of these elusive celestial wanderers.