New Zealand scientists have helped to discover free-floating rogue (orphan) planets drifting in space. Unlike most planets, they are not orbiting stars.
The group, working with Japanese researchers, has detected 10 planets the size of Jupiter thousands of light years away in space.
Scientists believe the planets formed in a solar system before being knocked off their orbit by other planets.
Mt John Observatory near Lake Tekapo in Canterbury was used to detect the planets as they passed in front of bright stars.
Auckland, Victoria, Massey and Canterbury universities contributed to the research.
