A team of researchers has released images that give a close-up look at more than 80 stars in our galaxy, providing new insights into planet formation. These young stars, captured using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) in Chile, are surrounded by dust and gas disks that eventually lead to planet formation.
The disks seen in the images vary in shape and size, showcasing the diverse methods through which planetary systems form. Some disks have spiral arms possibly caused by orbiting planets, while others display gas and dust formations during planet formation. Certain disks have rings or large cavities, while others appear smooth like floating bowls in space.
The research team studied 86 stars in star-forming regions Taurus, Chameleon I, and Orion, providing important insights into planet formation. They found that stars bound by gravity into groups are less likely to have large planet-forming disks. Future telescopes like the planned Very Large Telescope with a 39-meter mirror from ESO could reveal more details about planet-forming regions and potentially witness the formation of rocky planets like Earth.
According to researcher Christian Ginski, this advancement in the field represents a significant change, moving from studying individual star systems to understanding entire star-forming regions.
Read more:
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
