Astronomers might have taken the first pictures of a planet being born. An international team led by Swiss astronomer Sascha Quanz has made what could be the first direct observation of a planet in the process of being formed.
Astronomers Find Possible Protoplanet Being Formed
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This artist’s impression shows the formation of a planet in the ring of dust and gas around the young star HD 100546. (ESO/L. Calçada)
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This image from the NACO system on ESO’s Very Large Telescope shows a candidate protoplanet in the disc of gas and dust around the young star HD100546. (ESO)
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This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows a visible light view of the outer dust around the young star HD100546. (ESO/NASA/ESA/Ardila et al.)
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This chart shows the position of the young star HD 100546 in the southern constellation of Musca (The Fly). Most of the stars that are visible to the unaided eye from a clear and dark site are shown. (ESO, IAU and Sky & Telescope)
