Astronomers have captured the sharpest and most detailed images yet of young solar systems where planets are just beginning to take shape. These high-resolution images were taken using advanced imaging techniques from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile.
The data from these images could help refine computer models of planetary formation and evolution, as well as shed new light on how these infant systems compare to mature exoplanets already discovered. The images reveal finer structures within the protoplanetary disks, which are the swirling gas and dust surrounding young stars.
Researchers used ALMA to map the motion of gas within over a dozen protoplanetary disks, looking for subtle clues that hint at a planet’s presence, such as gaps, rings, and physical disturbances. These techniques reduce distortions and sharpen clarity, boosting astronomers’ ability to map out the planet formation process with greater precision.
Initial analysis of the images shows that these protoplanetary disks are highly dynamic and chaotic places that already harbor complex structures. The team found evidence of large dust grains being gathered into rings, precursors to planets, and subtle signs of the disks’ gravitational influence, providing a new way to gauge the mass available for forming planets.
The project was led by scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and involved early-career researchers who authored 12 of the 17 published papers. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of planetary formation and evolution.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/exoplanets/these-are-the-sharpest-images-yet-of-planets-being-born-around-distant-stars