Galaxy Filled With Homeless Planets

 

Recently scientists have dramatically upped their estimates of how many planets there are in the universe. The March Trumpet issue discussed the latest research estimating that each star is being orbited by an average of 1.6 planets—which would mean that our galaxy alone hosts 160 billion of them.

In January, science’s prediction of just how much real estate might be out there expanded many times more, with the suggestion that our galaxy is filled with homeless planets.

A group of scientists from the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology presented evidence that, in addition to those planets orbiting stars, there may be up to 10,000 times as many planet-sized objects flying freely throughout the Milky Way galaxy—called nomadic planets.

The study of planets outside our solar system—termed extrasolar planets or “exoplanets”—is exploding right now. Just 22 years ago, none were known; now, thanks to technological developments, that number is 2,000 and growing by the month. Most of these planets orbit stars, but last year, astronomers found a dozen planets that don’t orbit stars.

Using a technique called gravitational microlensing (the refocusing of a star’s light by planets passing “in front” of them) and other observations, kipac scientists say the ratio of nomad planets to stars is at least 5:1, but could be much higher, even as many as 10,000:1.

“Louis Strigari, leader of the team that reported the results to the Royal Astronomical Society, suggests that some of the planetary orphans could even retain enough heat for microbial life—if they have enough tectonic and radioactive processes to generate heat and enough atmosphere to retain it,” the Register, an online technology publication, reported on February 27.

Scripture tells us that God does nothing in vain. Though Earth is the only planet supporting physical life at present, God does have a plan to “plant the heavens” (Isaiah 51:16). The existence of “wandering planets” shows that there is much work to be done before any of that real estate could host life. Nevertheless, our ever increasing awareness of the vastness of the universe and its limitless potential should ignite our imaginations for what the future holds.