The closest known rogue planet to Earth is a celestial body called W0254-022, which is located approximately 25 light-years away in the constellation of Hydrus. Rogue planets are intriguing because they do not orbit a star and instead drift through space on their own.
W0254-022 is believed to be a brown dwarf, which is a sub-stellar object that is not massive enough to sustain hydrogen fusion like a star, yet larger than a typical planet. The exact characteristics of W0254-022 are still being studied, and it is often difficult to precisely identify and categorize rogue planets due to their lack of light and unpredictable trajectories.
Rogue planets like W0254-022 can provide valuable insights into planetary formation and the dynamics of solar systems. Understanding these solitary wanderers can also deepen our knowledge of the universe and the variety of celestial bodies that inhabit it.