Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery, capturing a still-forming planet in action as it carves out an intricate pattern in the gas and dust surrounding its young host star. Using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), researchers observed a planetary disc with prominent spiral arms, finding clear signs of a planet nestled in its inner regions.
The detection was made around the star HD 135344B, within a disc of gas and dust called a protoplanetary disc. The budding planet is estimated to be twice the size of Jupiter and as far from its host star as Neptune is from the Sun. Observations revealed that the planet is shaping its surroundings within the protoplanetary disc as it grows into a fully formed planet.
This discovery sheds new light on the formation process of planets, which have long been a topic of interest for astronomers. Protoplanetary discs have been observed around other young stars, often displaying intricate patterns such as rings, gaps, or spirals. The presence of these features is believed to be caused by baby planets sweeping up material as they orbit their parent star.
The VLT’s Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph (ERIS) instrument was used in this observation, allowing researchers to directly detect the signal of the protoplanet, which is still highly embedded in the disc. This detection gives scientists a much higher level of confidence in the planet’s existence.
In related news, another team of astronomers has also observed a companion object to the young star V960 Mon using the ERIS instrument. The nature of this object remains a mystery, but it could be either a planet or a brown dwarf – an object bigger than a planet that didn’t gain enough mass to shine as a star.
These discoveries highlight the importance of continued observation and research into the formation process of planets in our galaxy. By studying these systems, scientists can gain a better understanding of how our solar system came to be and potentially identify signs of life beyond Earth.
Source: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2513