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back to article Interstellar space 'full of Jupiter-size orphan planets'

A team of astronomers has identified a novel new kind of galactic wanderer - lone, Jupiter-sized planets expelled from forming solar systems and drifting in the empty void between the stars. The researchers, led by Takahiro Sumi of Japan's Osaka University, spotted 10 such free-floating "orphan planets" in data from a 2006-7 …

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  1. Martin Budden Silver badge
    Troll

    they are NOT planets!

    Not according to the IAU definition of a planet anyway, which mentions orbit a couple of times. These large round things aren't in orbit, so they're not planets.

    Alternatively....

    They ARE planets, and the IAU definition is utter bollocks!

    1 0
  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    LHC

    These wandering gas giants are what comes leaping out of so called 'microscopic black holes'.

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    1. Bill Fresher
      Reply Icon

      Prrp

      The longer you hold back the gas the more gigantic the gas expulsion when the hole is finally opened.

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    2. Stoneshop
      Reply Icon
      Flame

      @AC 11:24

      Depends on what they've had for dinner.

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  3. druck Silver badge
    Happy

    Space 1999

    So Space 1999 wasn't that far fetched after all?

    1 0
    1. ravenviz Silver badge
      Reply Icon
      Troll

      Re: Space 1999

      Well only if you count the first half of Episode 1.

      Still fantastic in the true sense though! :-D

      1 0

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