James Webb Telescope Discovers 6 Rogue Worlds Within A Glowing Cosmic Cloud
NDTV
The Webb telescope observed the star-forming nebula NGC 1333, located 960 light-years away within the Perseus molecular cloud
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected six rogue worlds-cosmic objects that do not orbit stars. These celestial bodies are slightly larger than Jupiter and provide new insights into star and planet formation across the universe.
The Webb telescope observed the star-forming nebula NGC 1333, located 960 light-years away within the Perseus molecular cloud. This nebula's turbulence creates knots that collapse under gravity, leading to the formation of stars. Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, which was hindered by dust, Webb's ability to observe in infrared light allowed it to see through the dust and capture detailed images.
Within the nebula, Webb identified newborn stars, brown dwarfs, and objects with planetary masses, all about five to ten times more massive than Jupiter. These findings highlight the existence of low-mass objects formed through processes typically associated with star formation, rather than planets or brown dwarfs.
