Dozens of giant planet-like objects observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in the Orion Nebula are believed to provide clues about stellar formation and disruption. These objects, referred to as Jupiter-mass binary objects (JuMBOs), consist of pairs of rogue gas giants, with masses between 0.7 and 30 times that of Jupiter, that approach each other at critical distances of 25 to 400 astronomical units (AU). Let’s revolve around.
Findings from the Orion Nebula
The study exploring their origin is detailed Nov. 5 in The Astrophysical Journal. The objects are located in the trapezoid region of the Orion Nebula, a known stellar nursery. According to reports, JuMBOs are believed to have formed under unique circumstances not seen elsewhere. Current theories consider various possibilities, such as gravitational dynamics ejecting them from their home systems or a scenario where they formed near the stars before being forced into independent orbits. However, recent studies propose that they may represent failed stars, which formed when embryonic stars lost their mass due to intense radiation.
Insights from researchers
Richard Parker, senior lecturer in astrophysics at the University of Sheffield, who co-authored the study, shared with Live Science that the wide separation observed between the JuMBO pairs sets them apart from other brown dwarfs in the Milky Way. The study explored whether these binary systems might have originated from pre-stellar cores subjected to intense radiation from nearby massive stars. These intense conditions, theorized by Anthony Whitworth and Hans Zinecker two decades ago, can destroy the outer layers of the core and compress its center, potentially leading to the formation of a JuMBO.
Simulations shed light on formation
Parker, along with doctoral student and lead author Jessica Diamond, conducted simulations by exposing a virtual pre-stellar core to conditions that mimic high-energy radiation. The results closely match JuMBOs in terms of size and orbital distance. While these findings present a plausible formation process, Parker stressed that further studies in other star-forming regions, such as the Scorpius–Centaurus association, could validate the hypothesis.
The research highlights how little is currently known about these mysterious systems, leaving room for alternative theories and ongoing investigation.
