Articles tagged with Protoplanetary Disks
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The SPHERE instrument has produced an unprecedented gallery of debris disks in exoplanetary systems, allowing for deductions of smaller bodies. These observations provide a glimpse of the earliest history of the solar system, with small bodies serving as remnants from planetesimals that did not evolve into larger planets.
Experimental tests demonstrate that interactions between magma oceans and primitive atmospheres during early years can produce significant amounts of water. This process has major implications for the physical and chemical properties of planets' interiors, with potential effects on core development and atmospheric composition.
Researchers at the Astrobiology Center and University of Texas at San Antonio successfully detected hydrogen emission lines from AB Aurigae b using the VLT/MUSE. The detection is interpreted as evidence of mass accretion from the circumplanetary disk onto the protoplanet.
New research reveals that many protoplanetary discs are subtly warped, challenging the textbook picture of flat discs. These small warps can naturally explain large-scale patterns observed in gas motion and may be responsible for creating spiral patterns and temperature variations within cosmic nurseries.
Astronomers have detected a growing planet outside our solar system in a cleared gap of a multi-ringed disk of dust and gas. The discovery provides the first direct evidence that protoplanets can create these gaps, resolving a long-standing debate in the scientific community.
A study by researchers at UC Santa Barbara, Yale University and others found that a third of young stars have misaligned rotational axes with their protoplanetary disks. This challenges centuries-old assumptions about the alignment of stars and planets in our solar system and suggests that some stars may be born tilted.
A team of Japanese astronomers discovered an explosively expanding bubble structure near the protoplanetary disk of WSB 52, pushing back against the disk and distorting it. The center of the bubble aligned with the disk's rotation axis, suggesting a jet triggered the expansion.
Complex organic molecules, precursors to life's building blocks, have been found in a planet-forming disc around the outbursting protostar V883 Orionis. This discovery supports the idea that life's seeds are assembled in space and are widespread.
Astronomers have detected a newborn planet in action, carving out an intricate pattern in the gas and dust surrounding its young host star. The planet candidate is estimated to be twice the size of Jupiter and has been observed shaping its surroundings within the protoplanetary disc as it grows into a fully formed planet.
Researchers create water tornado to investigate flow properties in protoplanetary discs, mimicking gravitational field and finding particles' motion conforming to Kepler's laws. The experiment provides insights into dust-particle interactions promoting planet formation.
Researchers identified early moment of planet formation around star beyond Sun, marking window to past of our Solar System. The discovery provides a unique analogue for studying early planet formation processes.
Researchers discovered signs of planet formation in disks around still-forming baby stars, suggesting planets begin to form earlier than previously believed. The new high-resolution images show ring or spiral patterns in 27 of the disks, providing a better understanding of when planet formation begins.
A new study by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) proposes that compact exoplanetary systems may be surviving remnants of planet accretion during the final stages of stellar formation. This process results in similarly sized planets with characteristic masses determined by infall and disk conditions.
Researchers use NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to investigate a protoplanetary disk around a young star in the Lobster Nebula. They found sufficient solid material to potentially form at least 10 rocky planets and detected various molecules that contribute to planetary atmospheres.
A study led by Paolo Padoan reveals that young stars gain material from their surroundings through Bondi-Hoyle accretion, making planetary disks larger and more durable. This revised understanding resolves long-standing observational discrepancies and forces substantial revisions to current models.
New research reveals that exoplanets with masses similar to Jupiter formed much sooner than previously thought, suggesting the accretion process takes place early. This finding could lead scientists to re-evaluate and revamp their theories of planet formation for the solar system and elsewhere.
The discovery of a long-lived planet-forming disk around the star WISE J0446B reveals that disks can persist for three times longer than expected. The study provides new insights into planetary formation and the habitability of planets outside our solar system, particularly for low-mass stars.
Researchers detect and measure magnetic field lines in protoplanetary disk around HD 142527 using dust 'fingerprint' method. The discovery may create strong turbulence within the disk, affecting planet formation.
The study analyzed material from asteroid Bennu, finding evidence of building blocks of life, water, and energy. The team also discovered evaporites, which have been found on Earth in dried-out salt lakes, providing insights into the asteroid's formation.
Researchers from Göttingen University and Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research discovered the Moon formed from material ejected from the Earth's mantle. The findings support the idea that water reached Earth early in its development, contrary to the prevailing assumption of late impacts.
The study uses NASA's Hubble and James Webb space telescopes to observe the debris disk encircling Vega. The researchers find that the disk is surprisingly smooth, with no obvious evidence of large planets, challenging current theories about exoplanet systems.
A new study using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has confirmed the presence of proplyds around brown dwarfs in the Orion Nebula. The team discovered 20 cool objects that are too small and cool to undergo hydrogen fusion, with two faint proplyds detected by Hubble previously.
A team of astronomers discovered new insights into the forces that shape protoplanetary disks using the James Webb Space Telescope. They traced disk winds in unprecedented detail, revealing an intricate structure and a pronounced central hole inside each cone-shaped envelope of winds.
Two UMD Astronomy space probes, AXIS and PRIMA, have advanced to the next round of consideration for a $1 billion NASA mission. AXIS will study X-rays from stars and black holes, while PRIMA will explore far-infrared radiation to understand galaxy formation.
Researchers studied 47 young meteor showers to understand where comets formed in the early solar system. They found that long-period comets often crumbled into gentle accretion conditions, while Jupiter-family comets broke apart under fragmentation, producing diverse asteroid populations.
The MIRI Mid-INfrared Disk Survey (MINDS) discovered a large variety of carbon-rich gases in the disk surrounding a very low-mass star. This finding suggests that rocky planets with Earth-like characteristics may form more efficiently than Jupiter-like gas giants in such disks.
A research team led by UCF's Mário Nascimento De Prá and Noemí Pinilla-Alonso discovered carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices on 59 trans-Neptunian objects using the James Webb Space Telescope. The findings suggest that carbon dioxide was abundant in the protoplanetary disk, while the origin of carbon monoxide remains uncertain.
A new study using the James Webb Space Telescope has captured the first-ever image of a planet-forming disk's gas dispersal, providing insights into how planets form in our solar system. The observations reveal that the inner disk of T Cha is evolving on very short timescales, differing from earlier spectra detected by Spitzer.
A research team discovered that intense ultraviolet radiation from massive stars can either form planets or prevent their formation. The JWST data showed that a Jupiter-like planet would not be able to form in the Orion Nebula due to rapid photoevaporation, contradicting previous theories.
Researchers detected complex structure with three concentric rings in the innermost region of the disk, rich in dust and minerals. The discovery suggests two planets may be forming within the gaps, with masses similar to Jupiter.
A team of astronomers used Webb to observe water and molecules in a highly irradiated disk in one of the most extreme environments in our galaxy. The results suggest that terrestrial planet formation conditions can occur in a broader range of environments than previously thought.
Researchers have observed a unique stage in the development of planetary systems by detecting a smooth protoplanetary disk around the young star DG Taurus. This discovery provides new insights into the conditions at the start of planet formation, challenging current theoretical expectations.
Scientists have discovered a young exoplanet, MWC 758c, that may be generating the spiral arms in its infant planetary system. The planet's massive size is estimated to be at least twice the mass of Jupiter, yet it was invisible to other telescopes due to its reddish color, which makes it more difficult to detect.
Scientists using ALMA have discovered the most compelling chemical evidence to date of protoplanet formation. The discovery provides an alternate method for detecting and characterizing protoplanets, particularly those embedded in their parental circumstellar disks.
Researchers suggest a massive young planet is burning up in a superheated soup of raw material swirling around it, causing the star to flare. The simulation reveals a 'disc inferno' process where the planet's atmosphere ignites, feeding the star and making it shine brighter.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a second shadow sweeping across the face of TW Hydrae's vast pancake-shaped gas-and-dust disk, suggesting the presence of two planets in slightly different orbital planes. The disks are likely proxies for these planets, which could be lapping each other as they whirl around the star.
Researchers confirmed a new protoplanet, HD 169142 b, orbiting a star 374 light years away. The planet is estimated to be about 37 astronomical units from its star and has carved an annular gap in the surrounding gas and dust disk.
Scientists have detected various prebiotic molecules, including hydrogen cyanide and fullerenes, in the Perseus Molecular Cloud. The presence of these molecules near forming planets could contribute to the formation of complex organic molecules, potentially supplying ancient micro-organisms with the genetic code.
Researchers found giant gas giants orbiting low-mass stars, challenging the widely accepted planet formation model. The study used NASA's TESS satellite data and identified 15 potential giant planets, with five confirmed as actual planets.
Researchers have discovered that primitive meteorites contain a different mix of potassium isotopes than those found in other, more-chemically processed meteorites. This suggests that the Solar System was formed from a 'poorly mixed cake batter' of materials, with some planets receiving a unique blend of elements from distant sources.
Researchers utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to observe dense interstellar clouds, revealing a treasure trove of pristine ices from the early universe. The study provides new insights into chemical processes in one of the coldest places in the universe, offering clues on molecular origins and sulfur storage.
A new model accounts for the interplay of forces acting on newborn planets, explaining two puzzling observations: the radius valley and peas in a pod. The research suggests that giant impacts, like the one that formed our moon, are probably a generic outcome of planet formation.
A study at Europlanet Science Congress 2022 found that super-thin planet nurseries can accelerate the formation of big planets. The team observed a remarkably thin disc of dust and gas around a young star, where large particles settled into a dense midplane, creating conditions favourable for planetary growth.
Astronomers have discovered a small Neptune-like planet in the protoplanetary disk LkCa 15, using high-resolution ALMA observations. The planet is estimated to be around one to three million years old and has accumulated material at the Lagrange points, providing strong evidence for its presence.
Astronomers find that carbon monoxide is three to 100 times less than predicted in disk observations, suggesting a massive ice formation problem. The new model suggests carbon monoxide forms on large particles of ice, especially after one million years.
A team of researchers has discovered a young protoplanet forming in the disk of a nearby star, providing new evidence for an alternative planet formation mechanism. The study's findings challenge traditional models of planet formation and offer insights into the evolution of exoplanets.
Researchers found that passing stars, misaligned binary stars, and passing gas clouds can warp protoplanetary discs, disrupting spiral structures. This warping heats up the disc, making it harder for planets to form via gravitational instability.
Researchers use ALMA and VLA to detect chaotic dust and gas streams caused by an intruder object interacting with the binary protostar. The study provides evidence of flyby events in nature, which can dramatically perturb circumstellar disks and impact planet formation.
Researchers used computer simulations to model how dust collides and grows into solid cores for gas giants. This process enables the formation of massive cores necessary for gas accumulation within a few hundred thousand years.
A new study by Rice University astrophysicist André Izidoro suggests that the sun had rings before planets formed, explaining many solar system features. The model simulates the solar system's formation hundreds of times and reproduces several features missed by previous models, including pressure bumps and rings.
A team of astronomers used a 3D simulation to study dust motion and growth in a protoplanetary disk around a young star. They found that large dust particles can be entrained by gas outflows and eventually fall back onto the outer regions of the disk, enabling planetesimal formation.
Scientists have made new discoveries about the early solar system using meteorite glass beads. By analyzing the isotopic compositions of elements in these beads, researchers were able to determine that massive shockwaves passing through the nebula caused the extreme heating and cooling necessary for chondrule formation.
Simulations show that a migrating planet can produce patterns matching those observed in disks, explaining why planets are rarely found near outer rings. The findings also help to confirm the planet theory for ring formation.
Scientists confirm a link between planetary and stellar compositions, with some planets exhibiting higher iron content than their host stars. This study provides insights into planetary formation and evolution, shedding light on potential habitability and constraining possible compositions.
Researchers analyzed ALMA data to create the first animation of a young twin star system's orbital motion over three years. The study found that the disks surrounding each star are significantly misaligned with respect to each other, supporting the idea that the system was formed via molecular cloud fragmentation.
Astronomers have mapped out the chemicals inside planetary nurseries with unprecedented detail, revealing dozens of molecules within five protoplanetary disks. The locations of these molecules vary dramatically across each disk, resulting in diverse chemical environments that may impact planetary formation and potential for life.
Researchers analyzed deuterium abundance ratios in protoplanetary disks and found significant variations within a single disk, suggesting differences in chemical composition and physical state at formation sites. The study also reveals the presence of complex organic molecules, including nitriles, in planet-forming disks.
Researchers found significant reservoirs of large organic molecules in protoplanetary disks, providing a potential pathway for life to form elsewhere. The presence of these molecules suggests basic chemical conditions that led to life on Earth could exist more widely across the Galaxy.
A study using ALMA revealed that protoplanetary disks around five young stars are factories of organic molecules, including nitriles implicated in the origins of life. The discovery provides insights into planetary system formation and whether these systems have what it takes to host life.
Researchers have discovered a uniquely shaped hot spot on a baby star 450 million light-years away, providing new clues about the formation of our solar system. The discovery confirms accretion models and sheds light on how young stars grow.