Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of the earliest stages of rocky planet formation in the vicinity of a young sun-like star, offering a rare glimpse into the genesis of our own solar system. This moment, described as “time zero,” represents the initiation of planet formation, as indicated by scientists who shared their findings on Wednesday.
Lead researcher Melissa McClure from Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands expressed excitement, stating that they have directly observed the region where Earth-like rocky planets form around young protostars for the first time. The study, published in the journal Nature, marks a conclusive confirmation that the initial steps of planet formation are currently underway.
The collaborative efforts of NASA’s Webb Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile uncovered these early planetary building blocks surrounding the young star named HOPS-315. This star, resembling a developing yellow dwarf like our sun, is estimated to be between 100,000 and 200,000 years old and situated around 1,370 light-years away.
By peering into the gas disk encircling the young star, researchers detected solid particles condensing – a sign of nascent planet formation. The presence of silicon monoxide gas and crystalline silicate minerals in the disk indicates the formation of the first solid materials, akin to those found in our solar system over 4.5 billion years ago. This process is unfolding in a region similar to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, containing the remnants that shaped our solar system’s planets.
McClure noted that the condensation of hot minerals observed in this study has not been previously detected around other young stars, raising questions about its universal nature in planet formation. This significant finding sheds light on the early stages of planetary system development.
Looking ahead, McClure anticipates the potential for multiple planets to form around HOPS-315, given the substantial mass of its gas disk, which may eventually lead to the creation of eight planets in a million years. Co-author Merel van ‘t Hoff from Purdue University emphasized the importance of discovering more emerging planetary systems to unravel the processes critical for Earth-like world formation.
The study’s captivating images captured by the ESO’s Alma telescope network depict the evolving planetary system resembling a luminous beacon in the vast darkness of space. This discovery opens the door to further exploration of planetary formation and the search for Earth-like planets beyond our solar system.