A planet without a sun found

A planet without a sun has been discovered by astronomers who say it is the first confirmation of a free-floating planet that does not orbit a star.

The planet, known as CFBDSIR2149, is up to seven times the mass of Jupiter and is passing through space at the relatively close distance of 100 light years from our own Solar System.

Astronomers have long theorised about the possibility of free-floating planets that are not trapped by the gravitational attraction of a nearby star, but this is the first time they have confirmed one's existence.

Calculations by Canadian and French scientists show the planet is comparatively young, between 50 and 120 million years old, with a temperature of 400C.