New Jupiter-mass binary planets spotted in a nearby stellar nursery, reviving the JuMBO debate
Astronomers analyzing archival infrared and Gaia data found two wide, Jupiter-mass binary objects in the Lower Centaurus-Crux star-forming region, adding weight to the JuMBO concept while showing such free-floating planet-sized binaries are rare (about 2% of rogue planets in that region). This new evidence suggests some previously claimed JuMBOs in the Orion Nebula may have been misidentified stars, but the existence of planet-mass binaries is becoming more plausible. Researchers plan follow-up observations with the ESO's Very Large Telescope to better characterize these systems and their implications for planet formation and potential habitability through tidal heating.