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Overview of PSO J318.5-22

PSO J318.5-22 is a free-floating gas giant located about 80 light-years away in the constellation Capricornus. It is unique because it does not orbit a star, making it a rogue planet with no parent star to provide light or heat.

Discovery

PSO J318.5-22 was discovered in 2013 by a team of astronomers using the Pan-STARRS 1 wide-field survey telescope. Its discovery was notable because it was the first unbound planet detected, providing insights into planetary formation and atmosphere in the absence of a star.

Characteristics of PSO J318.5-22

• Mass:~6.5 Jupiter masses
• Radius: Estimated to be similar to Jupiter (~1 Jupiter radius)
• Orbital period: N/A (not bound to a star)
• Distance from its star: N/A (free-floating)
• Surface temperature: ~1,100 K (827°C)

Habitability Potential

PSO J318.5-22 is a gas giant with high surface temperatures, and without the warmth of a parent star, it is not considered to be habitable. As a rogue planet, it offers no potential for liquid water or life as we know it, but it remains a fascinating object for studying planetary formation and atmospheres in isolation.