'Orphan' alien planet with no parent is found near Earth

MSNBC ^ | November 14, 2012 | Mike Wall

[Altariel]

Astronomers have discovered a potential "rogue" alien planet wandering alone just 100 light-years from Earth, suggesting that such starless worlds may be extremely common across the galaxy.

The free-floating object, called CFBDSIR2149, is likely a gas giant planet four to seven times more massive than Jupiter, scientists say in a new study unveiled Wednesday. The planet cruises unbound through space relatively close to Earth (in astronomical terms), perhaps after being booted from its own solar system.

"If this little object is a planet that has been ejected from its native system, it conjures up the striking image of orphaned worlds, drifting in the emptiness of space," study leader Philippe Delorme of the Institute of Planetology and Astrophysics of Grenoble in France said in a statement.

[Shadowstrike]

My question is which way is it “wandering”?

[stillonaroll]

Thanks for posting, but has someone other than MSNBC written about this? I refuse to click through to MSNBC.

[txhurl]

4-7X bigger than Jupiter and ‘little planet’ is a big incongruous, but freeze me and send me. I don’t care if there is Avatar-level wildlife running the place, I want off this planet NOW.

[jimpick]

this must be Bush”s fault, or caused by global warming.

[stillonaroll]

http://www.space.com/18461-rogue-alien-planet-discovery.html

[Army Air Corps]

It is slightly smaller than Obama’s narcissism.

[shibumi]

The answer lies at the 1:45 mark on this video -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B707Ava4wrY

[rmlew]

Failed star like a small Brown Dwarf?

[Boogieman]

It’s planet X! Nibiru is coming! Don tin foil helmets and head for the Y2K shelters!

[null and void]

Bronson Beta...

[girlscout]

I wonder how much gas costs on a gas planet.

[Kickass Conservative]

near?

If that’s near, I’m a better shot than I thought.

[Rembrandt]

“Failed star like a small Brown Dwarf?”

OMG, a special needs minority planet which also should be considered for Affirmative Action Status!?

[mvpel]

[rmlew]

OMG, a special needs minority planet which also should be considered for Affirmative Action Status!?
Actually, sub-Brown Dwarfs, are also called "Gray Dwarfs". As such, they are white and have no special status.

http://space.wikia.com/wiki/Sub-brown_dwarf
http://space.wikia.com/wiki/Brown_dwarfs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-brown_dwarf
http://astro.berkeley.edu/~basri/bdwarfs/index.html

[jagusafr]

“Resistance is futile”...

[atomic conspiracy]

Excellent classical reference!

[Eaker]

And moochell’s butt.

[Bratch]