The JuMBO 24 binary system resides in the Orion Nebula, a diffuse nebula located approximately 1,350 light-years away in the constellation Orion.
Free-floating Jupiter-mass binary objects are common, even if current stellar and planetary theory cannot explain their existence. Image credit: Gemini Observatory / Jon Lomberg.
Professor Luis Rodriguez of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and his colleagues said, “Near-infrared surveys of the interior of the Orion Nebula and the Trapezoid Cluster using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) revealed 40 Jupiter-mass binary objects (JuMBOs) and 2 triple objects. were detected.” .
“These systems are not associated with stars, their component masses range from 0.6 to 14 times the mass of Jupiter, and their distances in the plane of the sky range from 28 to 384 AU. It’s between.”
“The existence of these widespread binaries is surprising because our current knowledge of star and planet formation cannot explain them.”
Using NSF's Carl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), astronomers searched for the equivalent of 40 JuMBOs.
Surprisingly, only one of these objects, JuMBO 24, displayed a radio.
The radio brightness of the two planetary mass objects in this system is significantly higher than that detected in the brown dwarf.
This anomaly raises new questions and provides exciting research opportunities to further understand the nature of these free-floating planets.
While it's possible that the link between the infrared and radio signals is a coincidence, the researchers believe this is extremely unlikely, only 1 in 10,000.
“What's really remarkable is that these objects may have moons similar to Europa and Enceladus, both of which have underground oceans of liquid water that can support life,” Professor Rodriguez said. Told.
“The detection of radio waves emanating from both components of a dual system of free-floating planets represents an important milestone in our space exploration.”
“It also provides an exciting opportunity for further research into the potential habitability of planets beyond our solar system.”
of study Published in Astrophysics Journal Letter.
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Luis F. Rodriguez other. 2024. The radio counterpart of the Jupiter-mass binary object in Orion. APJL 960, L14; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad18ac
Source: www.sci.news
