Re: Speculation about other reasons
We expect planetary captures to be quite rare. This is because the amount of potential + kinetic energy between two objects remains constant unless some third source intervenes. See for example, the two comets from "out there"--they leave & don't come back.
The problem is, this system is only 30 light years away, which means that you're dealing with the 1 in million chance happening 90% of the time problem.
Another commentard has claimed to have read the paper, which basically says that this gas giant is really a failed binary star. So no need for capture.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
