Astronomers detect a young planet forming within a gap in a distant disk
In short: Astronomers observing the young star PDS 70 found a point source located within a large gap in its surrounding transition disk. The discovery suggests the presence of a bound companion of planetary mass, likely a young protoplanet, situated about 22 au from its host star.
The study used near-infrared images from several powerful telescopes to analyze the disk's structure. The team confirmed the object's presence across multiple epochs and instruments, noting its redder colors may indicate surrounding warm material. However, the study relies on comparing observed magnitudes to evolutionary tracks rather than direct atmospheric measurements.
Why it matters: This discovery provides a rare look at the physical conditions of planet formation in real-time.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Keppler et al. (2018). Discovery of a planetary-mass companion within the gap of the transition disk around PDS 70. Astronomy and Astrophysics.
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