Delhi: US Astronomers have spotted WISEA1147 a planet found alone in space, known as TW Hydrae seen in a 10 million year old group of stars. Astronomers with the help of WISE and 2MASS surveys from NASA found the planet.
The planet looks similar to a ‘brown dwarf’ lacking mass to burn nuclear fuel to shine like a star. The planet has a reddish colour and is having mass 5 to 10 times that of Jupiter.
The newfound object, termed WISEA J114724.10204021.3, or just WISEA 1147 for short, may help scientists understand planets without stars. Adam Schneider of the University of Toledo in Ohio, lead author of a new study accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal, said “With continued monitoring, it may be possible to trace the history of WISEA 1147 to confirm whether or not it formed in isolation.”