Astronomers have observed the first signs of rocky planet formation around the young star HOPS-315. This star, located 1,370 light-years away, is in its early stages of formation, estimated to be about 100,000 to 200,000 years old. Utilizing NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and the ALMA array, researchers detected signs of silicate minerals and silicon monoxide gas condensing in the star's gas disk. These elements are critical to the formation of rocky planets similar to Earth, marking a significant step in understanding how such planets might emerge in cosmic nurseries.
We've captured a direct glimpse of the hot region where rocky planets like Earth are born around young protostars. For the first time, we can conclusively say that the first steps of planet formation are happening right now.
Our study shows that it could be a common process during the earliest stage of planet formation. The glowing, lightning bug-like system shows a cosmic nursery where planets may one day emerge.
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