Artist’s impression of the free-floating planet CFBDSIR J214947.2-040308.9

This artist’s impression shows the free-floating planet CFBDSIR J214947.2-040308.9. This is the closest such object to the Solar System. It does not orbit a star and hence does not shine by reflected light; the faint glow it emits can only be detected in infrared light. Here we see an artist’s impression of an infrared view of the object with an image of the central parts of the Milky Way from the VISTA infrared survey telescope in the background. The object appears blueish in this near-infrared view because much of the light at longer infrared wavelengths is absorbed by methane and other molecules in the planet's atmosphere. In visible light the object is so cool that it would only shine dimly with a deep red colour when seen close-up.

Credit:

ESO/L. Calçada/P. Delorme/R. Saito/VVV Consortium

About the Image

Id:eso1245a
Type:Artwork
Release date:14 November 2012, 12:00
Related releases:eso1245
Size:4000 x 2250 px

About the Object

Name:CFBDSIR J214947.2-040308.9
Type:Milky Way : Planet
Distance:100 light years
Category:Illustrations

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