Researchers study free-floating planet SIMP 0136 in Milky Way

Scientists have recently observed a mysterious planet known as SIMP 0136 using the James Webb Space Telescope. This planet is unique because it does not orbit a star and drifts freely in the Milky Way, located about 20 light-years away from Earth. SIMP 0136 is large, with a mass about 13 times that of Jupiter. Researchers believe it has similar properties to a giant gas planet, but they have not yet determined its exact characteristics. Free-floating planets like this one can form inside star systems but may be ejected due to gravitational forces from other planets. Another classification for such objects is "brown dwarfs." These are objects that form like stars in gas and dust clouds but lack the mass needed for stable nuclear fusion. Scientists are not yet sure if SIMP 0136 fits into either of these categories. The research team, which includes members from Boston University and other institutions, conducted detailed observations of SIMP 0136 to learn more about its nature. Their findings could provide insight into how planets and similar objects form and evolve in space.