This celestial orphan is around 100 light years away and between 50 -120 million years old.
It’s been named CFBDSIR2149-0403 and is apparently the only homeless planet in our galactic neighbourhood.
If it were possible for some form of life to exist on this world I wonder what sights they’d get to see.
As a certain Replicant once said.
“Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion, or c-beams glittering in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate.”
It certainly fires the imagination.
The Daleks keep a watchful eye-stalk on a wayward planet heading for Skaro in 'Rogue Planet' from TV21.
I thought interstellar planets were meant to be extremely common? They seem to be the result of collisions within solar systems leading to planets being flung off out of the gravitational influence of their parent star. Perpetual night and cold,still, could be worse..
ReplyDeleteI've no idea if they're common or not, Kevin. According to the news report - "Recent finds of such planets have suggested that they may be common, but candidates have eluded close study"
ReplyDeleteStudy co-author Etienne Artigau of the University of Montreal said "We observed hundreds of millions of stars and planets, but we only found one homeless planet in our neighbourhood"
I suppose reading between the lines I'm taking it that it appears rogue planets should be common but astronomers have only identified one so far.
Like you say though, Permanent night and a bit nippy!
Fascinating, isn't it, how we now think planets are so common? Makes you think Life ought to be.
ReplyDeleteIt must be out there, Kevin. There can't be just us!
ReplyDeleteMind you there'll be a lot of disapointment if doesn't turn out to look like E.T. ; )