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Astronomers measure mass and distance of free-floating planet

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Joint ground- and space-based observations reveal Saturn-mass rogue planet

The Sun

SPACED OUT ‘Invisible’ rogue planet with NO sun is detected hurtling through space after being kicked out by host stars

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Astronomers Measure The Mass of a Planet With No Star For The First Time

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No Star, No Orbit: Astronomers Detect a Rogue Planet Floating Free

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A Saturn-Sized Planet Is Drifting Through Space Alone

Newsweek

Astronomers Discover Rare ‘Free-Floating’ Rogue Planet

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"There is no planet B [habitable to human beings]."

"I would never say we can never reach the stars and possible habitable planets."

"The discovery of Gliese 12 b is a stepping stone towards finding potentially habitable planets."

The discovery of several smaller and cooler stars is "the best bet for finding habitable planets."

"[W]e're more likely to detect planets in the habitable zone with TESS [NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite]."

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"That there will not be a manned flight to Mars in 2028, nor in 2031, and probably not for twenty years after that."

"I'd say that [2040] is an audacious goal for us to meet."

"I’m thinking somewhere between 2040 and 2050."

"Humans are unlikely to step foot on Mars until the 2040s/2050s at the earliest, and there’ll never be a significant human settlement there because Mars is basically uninhabitable."

"Since nothing ever seems to go exactly according to plan, I'd expect something more like 2040."

"Space agencies hoping to send crewed missions to Mars by the early 2030s will either have to double down on their budgets or settle for less ambitious missions."

"And if we persevere on this pathway, we can reach Mars itself before 2035."

"We want to achieve a Mars landing in 2033."

"Humans will set out for Mars in the 2029 or 2031 windows, most likely."

"I think that the first human mission to Mars will take place about 2030, even though it is not currently on NASA’s schedule or any other space agency."

"Human landings [on Mars] may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely."

Will humans be sent to Mars before 2036?

Astronomers have detected a rogue planet with a mass approximately 22% that of Jupiter using gravitational microlensing, a technique where the planet's gravity briefly magnifies light from a distant background star. The planet is located roughly 3,000 parsecs from the center of the Milky Way.

Astronomers have detected a rogue planet with a mass approximately 22% that of Jupiter using gravitational microlensing, a technique where the planet's gravity briefly magnifies light from a distant background star. The planet is located roughly 3,000 parsecs from the center of the Milky Way.

This marks the first time astronomers have measured both the mass and distance of a free-floating planet, overcoming a limitation known as mass-distance degeneracy that previously prevented independent measurements of these properties through microlensing alone.

This marks the first time astronomers have measured both the mass and distance of a free-floating planet, overcoming a limitation known as mass-distance degeneracy that previously prevented independent measurements of these properties through microlensing alone.

The discovery, published in the journal Science on Thursday, was made possible by simultaneous observations from ground-based telescopes in Chile, South Africa and Australia, along with the Gaia space telescope positioned 930,000 miles from Earth. Tiny differences in the arrival times of light at these separated locations enabled precise parallax measurements.

The discovery, published in the journal Science on Thursday, was made possible by simultaneous observations from ground-based telescopes in Chile, South Africa and Australia, along with the Gaia space telescope positioned 930,000 miles from Earth. Tiny differences in the arrival times of light at these separated locations enabled precise parallax measurements.

The planet's Saturn-like mass suggests it likely formed within a planetary system rather than in isolation like a brown dwarf or small star. Scientists believe low-mass rogue planets are born around stars and later expelled through gravitational disturbances.

The planet's Saturn-like mass suggests it likely formed within a planetary system rather than in isolation like a brown dwarf or small star. Scientists believe low-mass rogue planets are born around stars and later expelled through gravitational disturbances.

The microlensing event, designated KMT-2024-BLG-0792, was observed on May 3, 2024, and lasted approximately 16 hours. The planet is estimated to be located about 10,000 light-years away from Earth, toward the center of the galaxy.

The microlensing event, designated KMT-2024-BLG-0792, was observed on May 3, 2024, and lasted approximately 16 hours. The planet is estimated to be located about 10,000 light-years away from Earth, toward the center of the galaxy.

The NASA Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, scheduled to launch in 2027, is expected to significantly increase the number of detections of free-floating planets. The telescope will have a field of view at least 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope.

The NASA Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, scheduled to launch in 2027, is expected to significantly increase the number of detections of free-floating planets. The telescope will have a field of view at least 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope.

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This marks the first time astronomers have directly measured both the mass and distance of a free-floating planet, overcoming a limitation known as mass-distance degeneracy that previously prevented independent measurements of these properties through microlensing alone.

This marks the first time astronomers have directly measured both the mass and distance of a free-floating planet, overcoming a limitation known as mass-distance degeneracy that previously prevented independent measurements of these properties through microlensing alone.

Astronomers have for the first time measured the mass of a rogue planet floating without a star by observing how its gravity bent starlight during a microlensing event. The planet weighs about as much as Saturn and opens exciting new possibilities for studying lonely cosmic wanderers and free-floating worlds across the galaxy.

Astronomers have for the first time measured the mass of a rogue planet floating without a star by observing how its gravity bent starlight during a microlensing event. The planet weighs about as much as Saturn and opens exciting new possibilities for studying lonely cosmic wanderers and free-floating worlds across the galaxy.

Scientific American

Scientific American #2899

Scientists Just Clocked a ‘Rogue’ Planet the Size of Saturn

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Calling it a breakthrough may overstate the findings: the mass estimate depends on complex microlensing models and a rare alignment of observations, meaning the result could be less certain than headlines suggest. Without repeated detection or direct imaging, interpretations about the planet's nature and prevalence remain tentative.

Calling it a breakthrough may overstate the findings: the mass estimate depends on complex microlensing models and a rare alignment of observations, meaning the result could be less certain than headlines suggest. Without repeated detection or direct imaging, interpretations about the planet's nature and prevalence remain tentative.

New Scientist

New Scientist #2810

Rare Saturn-sized rogue planet is first to have its mass measured

There's a 12% chance that Planet Nine will be discovered before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 12% chance that Planet Nine will be discovered before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Rogue Planet Mass and Distance Measured for First Time

Rogue Planet Mass and Distance Measured for First Time

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Rogue Planet Mass and Distance Measured for First Time

Rogue Planet Mass and Distance Measured for First Time

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

Nicholson

Fraknoi

Ishikawa

NASA

Palethorpe

Research

Reuter

Borowitz

Engineering

Aldrin

Bridenstine

Hague

Musk

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