Hypothetical "ploonets" would blur the lines between planets and moons

You know what planets are. You're familiar with moons. But what do you get when you cross the two? "Ploonets," according to astronomers from Australia and Colombia. These weird, hypothetical objects start life as a moon circling a giant planet, but models show they can be exiled and essentially turn into planets themselves. If true, this theory could explain away some astronomical mysteries.

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Category: Space

Tags:

• Astronomy
• Colombia
• Exoplanet
• Hubble
• Macquarie University
• Moon

from New Atlas (Gizmag) https://ift.tt/2xHIyHQ