JWST discovers Jupiter-mass binary objects in the Orion Nebula, offering new clues
Dozens of massive planet-like objects observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in the Orion Nebula are believed to hold clues to the formation and disruption of stars. These objects, also called Jupiter-mass binaries (JuMBOs), consist of pairs of rogue gas giants, with masses between 0.7 and 30 times that of Jupiter, orbiting each other at significant distances of 25 to 400 astronomical units (AU).
Findings from the Orion Nebula
The study Exploring their origins is detailed in the Nov. 5 issue of The Astrophysical Journal. The objects are located in the trapezoid region of the Orion Nebula, a well-known stellar nursery. According to reports, JuMBOs are believed to have emerged under unique circumstances not observed elsewhere. Current theories consider several possibilities, such as gravitational dynamics pushing them out of their home systems or a scenario in which they formed near stars before being forced into independent orbits. However, the recent study suggests that they may be failed stars, formed when embryonic stars lost 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 LiveScience that the observed large distances between JuMBO pairs distinguish them from other brown dwarfs in the galaxy. The study examined whether these binary star systems might have come from pre-stellar cores exposed to extreme radiation from nearby massive stars. These intense conditions, theorized 20 years ago by Anthony Whitworth and Hans Zinnecker, could erode a core’s outer layers and compress its center, potentially leading to the creation of JuMBOs.
Simulations shed light on formation
Parker, along with Jessica Diamond, a doctoral student and lead author, conducted simulations by exposing virtual pre-stellar cores to conditions that mimic high-energy radiation. The results closely matched the JuMBOs in size and orbital distance. While these findings point to a plausible formation process, Parker emphasized that further research 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 enigmatic systems, leaving room for alternative theories and ongoing research.
