‘JuMBO’ finding of planet-like objects in Orion by the James Webb telescope

The free-floating Jupiter-mass binary objects in the Orion Nebula seem to defy the conventional concept of planets

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'JuMBO' finding of planet-like objects in Orion by the James Webb telescope
James Webb Telescope makes JuMBO discovery of planets

Introduction

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered “planets” the size of Jupiter that are drifting freely in space and aren’t attached to any one star. The discovery is intriguing since it shows that these items seem to be travelling in pairs. Currently, astronomers are having difficulty explaining them. The telescope made around 40 pairs of observations during an incredibly thorough new examination of the well-known Orion Nebula.

Jupiter Mass Binary Objects, or “JuMBOs” for short, is the moniker given to them. One theory is that these objects emerged from areas of the nebula. Where the material density was inadequate to form fully developed stars. Another theory holds that they formed in the vicinity of stars. And were ejected into interstellar space as a result of numerous interactions.

Prof. McCaughrean

The team that created the new Orion survey was led by Prof. McCaughrean. The astronomers have significantly increased the data already mined by older observatories, including James Webb’s direct predecessor. The Hubble Space Telescope, using JWST’s exceptional resolution and infrared sensitivity. We found these tiny things that we were hunting for. We discover them at depths of as little as one Jupiter mass, or even half a Jupiter mass, floating adrift and unconnected to a star, the scientist said. According to physics, you cannot even create objects so small. Can we defy the laws of physics? And I believe that’s a good thing.

The Orion Nebula, also known as M42, is the largest star-forming region that is closest to Earth. This part of space appears to the unaided eye as a smudge on the sky, with the quartet of bright suns known as the Trapezium at its heart. If you are unaware of it, it is located low in the constellation of Orion, which bears the name of a legendary Greek hunter. The nebula is a component of the hunter’s “sword,” which is suspended from his “belt.”

JWST image

The latest James Webb Telescope image is actually a mosaic of 700 views collected over the course of a week of observations by Webb’s NIRCam instrument. To put the image in perspective, a spaceship travelling at light speed would need a little more than four years to complete the journey. The distance between Earth and the nebula is around 1,400 light-years.

Thousands of newborn stars with masses ranging from 40 down to less than 0.1 times that of our Sun are tucked away in this view. Although in some cases, these discs are being destroyed by the intense UV radiation. And powerful winds from the most massive stars in the galaxy, many of these stars are surrounded by dense discs of gas and dust that may be producing planets.

About JuMBO

The Jumbos have infernal surface temperatures of around 1,000C and are just about 1 million years old, or babies in cosmic terms. However, in the absence of a host star. They will swiftly cool and will briefly experience temperatures that are suitable for life before turning exceedingly cold. They are not anticipated to be major contenders for extraterrestrial life. Though, because even during their brief period of temperate climate. The surfaces of gas giants would not support liquid water.

The Orion Nebula, which is visible with the unaided eye as the hazy middle “star” in the “sword” of the Orion constellation, is the subject of the observations. It is the zone of enormous star formation that is nearest to Earth. Located 1,344 light years away, and the most recent photos show that it resembles a celestial body.

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