Do Planets Have to Go Around Stars?

Found in Space: A Science Podcast for Kids and Teens

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• Introduction to Rogue Planets:

  • The episode begins with the intriguing question of whether planets must orbit stars. A discussion unfolds, revealing that there i a unique type of planet called "rogue planets" or "orphaned planets" that don't orbit stars; they roam freely in the galaxy.

• Defining Planets and Stellar Formation:

  • An exploration of what defines a planet, focusing on the importance of mass and gravity in shaping celestial bodies into spherical forms and generating internal movement, such as convection.

• Planetary Formation Theories:

  • Discussion of two main theories on how planets form: the gravitational collapse of material in large clouds and the accretion of smaller objects into larger ones. This provides context for understanding how rogue planets might come into existence.

• Detecting Rogue Planets:

  • Insight into the challenges of detecting rogue planets, as they don't orbit stars and can't be observed through the usual methods used for exoplanets. Techniques such as gravitational lensing and infrared observations are explained.

• The Prevalence of Rogue Planets:

  • Highlighting the ongoing discoveries of rogue planets and the uncertainty surrounding their abundance in the galaxy. Some estimates suggest there might be hundreds of rogue planets for every star in the Milky Way.