Space
A rogue planet, dubbed Cha 1107-7626, has been observed consuming an extraordinary amount of material, challenging our existing notions of how stars and planets form.
By Alex Wilkins
Artist’s impression of Cha 1107-7626, a rogue planet approximately 620 light-years away
ESO/L. Calçada/M. Kornmesser
A hungry rogue planet has been observed consuming an astonishing 6 billion tonnes of gas and dust every second. This behavior blurs the distinction between planets and stars, suggesting they may form through similar processes.
Rogue planets, which are unbound celestial bodies drifting through space without a parent star, are believed to be incredibly common and might outnumber stars in our galaxy. However, the formation mechanisms for these celestial entities are still a topic of debate among astronomers.
Led by Víctor Almendros-Abad at the Palermo Astronomical Observatory in Italy, researchers have focused on Cha 1107-7626 since its initial discovery in 2008 due to the primitive planetary disk forming around it. Observations began with the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile, where, in June 2023, a dramatic increase in its material consumption was recorded.
The growth spurt of Cha 1107-7626 has been so significant that its consumption rate is comparable to that of stars much larger in mass, emphasizing the potential similarity in the formation processes of stars and rogue planets.
“This indicates that the methods that govern star formation are likely applicable to these objects as well,” explains Almendros-Abad. “It becomes essential to include rogue planets in our understanding of star formation.”
To explain the enormous growth rate of Cha 1107-7626, the research team proposes a mechanism akin to that seen in star formation, where strong magnetic fields guide material into a constricted flow from the surrounding debris of gas and dust. However, the precise reasons for the abrupt spike in the planet’s mass consumption remain elusive.
These findings imply that the distinctions between stars and planets are less clear than previously thought. Almendros-Abad pointed out, “Each time we investigate these rogue planets, it highlights our lack of understanding regarding the difference between stars and planets. While there must be some chemical markers that differentiate the two, we have yet to discover the key to this puzzle.”
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