Astronomers have identified an enormous ‘growth spurt’ in a so-called rogue planet. Unlike the planets in our Solar System, these objects do not orbit stars, free-floating on their own instead. The new observations, made with the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), reveal that this free-floating planet is eating up gas and dust from its surroundings at a rate of six billion tonnes a second. This is the strongest growth rate ever recorded for a rogue planet, or a planet of any kind, providing valuable insights into how they form and grow.

“(ESO’s VLT) reveals that this free-floating planet is eating up gas and dust from its surroundings at a rate of six billion tonnes a second. This is the strongest growth rate ever recorded for a rogue planet, or a planet of any kind…”

  • thegreatloofa@lemmy.world
    8·
    29 days ago

    The money is spent here, on Earth. It goes on wages, utilities, contractors and the like. Spending money is great, it keeps it circulating around! And in this case, in addition to paying everyone and everything involved, we add to our understanding of the universe. Money well spent.

    • HejMedDig
      14·
      29 days ago

      I understand the economics of it, and appreciate the science, but can’t help thinking that money could be spent on other things, that could be more beneficial to mankind, like climate research or finding ways to transition away from oil and plastics