Detecting large bodies outside the Solar System

[astrophoto]

How sensitive are our various scopes? Would we, for example, detect an object similar to Jupiter yet 10 to 100 times the size in deep space? I don't mean strictly visual scopes, any type of radiation scope will do.<br /><br />My point is, is it possible that we have giant planets outside the Solar System (but not orbitting another star) that are active like Jupiter? Something say 1000 AU's from Sol +?

 

[glutomoto]

I found some stuff in the APOD archive based on what you asked.<br /><br /> Free-Floating Planets In Orion<br /><br /><br /> An Extrasolar Planet?<br /><br /><br />A Big Black Hole Floats By<br /><br /><br />The Brown Dwarfs of Orion's Trapezium<br /><br /><br />Brown Dwarf Gliese 229B<br /><br /><br />Where a Black Hole Roams<br /><br /><br />maybe some of those links will help.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[astrophoto]

Your first link is exactly what I was looking for.<br /><br />It looks like we've seen Jupiter class objects free-floating in space. That is FASCINATING. It opens so many possibilities for missing mass in the Universe as well as possible environments we've never studied before....<br />

 

[tap_sa]

I find the idea of rogue jupiters unnerving. How are we going to deflect that if one waltzes into our solar system. Even if it misses Earth the gravitational perturbations might be fatal.