How Many Loose Planets in the Milky Way?

Life as we know it exists on a cozy planet in a stable orbit around a sun shining brightly in its sky. But a new study hints that the most common life in the universe might exist deep inside eternal-night worlds far from any star, adrift in the icy dark of interstellar space.

Researchers at the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) at Stanford University estimate that "nomad" planets, ejected from their home stellar system and now free-floating through the Milky Way, could outnumber stars by as many as 100,000 to 1. Earlier estimates were more like a handful to 1, though previous studies have only counted unbound planets more massive than Jupiter.

To estimate the number of unbound planets as small as Pluto that could be roaming the galaxy, Louis Strigari (KIPAC), lead author of the study, began with a basic rule of nature: where a few big objects are found, there are many more small, just like a few boulders may be surrounded by thousands of pebbles. ...

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/How ... 17963.html

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I'm not sure non-solar orbiting dust would be as likely to collect together into larger planets, as I would expect the dust to be expanding away from its initial source (nova.)

I'm not sure non-solar orbiting dust would be as likely to collect together into larger planets, as I would expect the dust to be expanding away from its initial source (nova.)

True. I'm thinking planets formed then flung away into space by migrating hot Jupiters. We know hot Jupiters tend to collect coteries of loose planets, aka groupies.

I'm not sure non-solar orbiting dust would be as likely to collect together into larger planets, as I would expect the dust to be expanding away from its initial source (nova.)

Given all that dust, the most common cosmic sound is that of a sneeze. That's what the SETI should be looking for.

I'm not sure non-solar orbiting dust would be as likely to collect together into larger planets, as I would expect the dust to be expanding away from its initial source (nova.)

Given all that dust, the most common cosmic sound is that of a sneeze. That's what the SETI should be looking for.

The Great Green Arkleseizure of Viltvodle VI?

How Many Loose Planets in the Milky Way?

I don’t know but I wonder how many of these loose planets will be demanding free birth control?

How Many Loose Planets in the Milky Way?

I don’t know but I wonder how many of these loose planets will be demanding free birth control?

You beat me to it...

How Many Loose Planets in the Milky Way?

I don’t know but I wonder how many of these loose planets will be demanding free birth control?

I hope they do. Maybe the cost of providing planet sized condoms without co-pays will finally get the insurance industry to stand up to Obama.

How Many Loose Planets in the Milky Way?

I don’t know but I wonder how many of these loose planets will be demanding free birth control?

And Bill Clinton is making plans for a trip in space.

How Many Loose Planets in the Milky Way?

I don’t know but I wonder how many of these loose planets will be demanding free birth control?

And Bill Clinton is making plans for a trip in space.

Just keep him away from Uranus.

How many?

Enough to have a secret base for every evil mastermind. It's a perfect design.

Loose planets? They prefer to be known as "sexually independent".