Move over, Pluto. A new discovery has brought up an old debate, but this time it is planet versus star.

A research team made up of nine scientists and headed by a Penn State professor has found an object orbiting around a star, but the team isn't sure what to call it just yet.

"It is called CHRX 73 B because we found it around the star CHRX 73 and we put the designation of B for any thing that we find orbiting a star," Kevin Luhman, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics said. Luhman is the only Penn State member on the research team.

The object was found by chance.

"We were using the Hubble Space Telescope to try to find free floating brown dwarfs, which are 'young' stars," Luhman said.

CHRX 73 B is a significant discovery because it is one of the smallest objects found using the Hubble Space Telescope. "This is important because it can show that we can detect very small images, up to ten Jupiter masses," Luhman said.

"Fifty years ago, no objects had been detected with masses between one and 50 Jupiter masses," said Donald Schneider, professor of astronomy and astrophysics. "Scientists didn't even know if such objects existed or if they couldn't find them."

Luhman isn't sure what to classify the object he found just yet. CHRX 73 B is small enough to be a planet, but judging by the way in which it was formed it could also be considered a brown dwarf or a failed star.

"CHRX 73 B has mass similar to other planetary companions, but it didn't form in the same way as planets do," Luhman said.

Regardless of whether CHRX 73 B is classified as a planet or star, its discovery is still of scientific importance. "Investigations of these failed stars are crucial if scientists are ever to understand the formation of planetary disks and the origin of planetary systems," Schneider said.

Brian Pomeroy (senior-aerospace engineering) said he is excited about this new discovery.

"I'm curious to see how it turns out. It's always important to see what is out there," Pomeroy said.