Rogue Planets

The Kepler Space Telescope, which operated from 2009 to 2018, provided a wealth of data astronomers used and continue to use to search for exoplanets, planets outside of our own solar system. There are now 4000+ known planets outside of our solar system, most of which were found with this telescope. New telescopes are coming online soon that will continue the search for exoplanets, helping astronomers further understand planetary and solar system formation.

Two of these telescopes are WFIRST and EUCLID. Together astronomers may be able to use the two telescopes to search for rogue planets. Rogue planets are planets that were flung out of their solar systems and are wandering through space, no longer gravitationally attached to a star. Because they are not in a solar system, they are very difficult to detect. The Kepler Space Telescope used the light curve of a star to find new planets. Without a star, Kepler couldn't detect these planets. But WFIRST and EUCLID may be able to do this.

Hundreds of rogue planets could be discovered with upcoming space telescopes

Rogue planets are another opportunity for astronomers to gain further understanding of how the cosmos work!