A recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters investigates the potential existence of Mars-sized free-floating planets (FFPs)—also known as rogue planets, starless planets, and wandering planets—that could have been captured by our sun's gravity long ago and orbit in the outer solar system approximately 1,400 astronomical units (AU) from the sun. For context, the farthest known planetary body in the solar system is Pluto, which orbits approximately 39 AU from the sun, and is also part of the Kuiper Belt, which scientists estimate extends as far out as 1,000 AU from the sun.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] CosmicCleric@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

that could have been captured by our sun’s gravity long ago and orbit in the outer solar system approximately 1,400 astronomical units (AU) from the sun.

I wonder how that works, vis-a-vis the Centauri star system Ort Cloud and our Ort Cloud that are supposed to be starting to mingle together / collide at this point?