Astronomers identify a planet that travels through the Milky Way without orbiting the Sun

Astronomers have directly observed a free-floating planet, comparable in mass to Earth, roaming the Milky Way. Discovered via gravitational microlensing due to its brief light curve, this rogue world is not bound to any star. Its motion suggests ejection from a planetary system, hinting at a potentially vast population of such solitary planets.

Astronomers identify a planet that travels through the Milky Way without orbiting the Sun
Astronomers have directly observed a free-floating planet, comparable in mass to Earth, roaming the Milky Way. Discovered via gravitational microlensing due to its brief light curve, this rogue world is not bound to any star. Its motion suggests ejection from a planetary system, hinting at a potentially vast population of such solitary planets.