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That’s No Planet

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15 November 2017

By Alex Khalil

One thing people don’t realise is how tiny Earth is, in comparison to the rest of our known universe. Even our neighbouring planets dwarf us when compared side by side. But a recent discovery by Nasa’s Spitzer Space Telescope could further show how small we really are.

The new planet called OGLE-2016-BLG-1190Lb is 13 times the size of Jupiter. It’s so large in fact, that astronomers are contemplating whether it’s even a planet. Researchers from a range of universities around the world reported the discovery, saying it:

‘raises the question of whether such objects are really, ‘planets'(formed within the disks of their hosts) or ‘failed stars’ (low mass objects formed by gas fragmentation)’

The planet is about 22,000 light years away, but further observation has been encouraged to help shape our understanding of what this thing is.

Space is weird.

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