Birth of a Planet: Secrets Revealed in Spectacular Image
Scientists have captured a developing planetary system in a groundbreaking photograph, showcasing clusters of matter that could give rise to gas giants like Jupiter or Saturn.
“We have been searching for signs of planet formation for ten years, so we couldn’t be more excited about this remarkable discovery,” exclaims Sebastián Pérez, an astrophysicist from the University of Santiago in Chile.
The extraordinary image was revealed by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and is just as stunning as the pictures provided by the Webb Telescope throughout the year, but it was captured using entirely different instruments. It features a very young star named V960 Mon, surrounded by spiraling arms composed of clouds of matter.
What makes it so remarkable? “The discovery is fascinating because, for the first time, we managed to capture clusters of matter that could give rise to gas giants,” says Alice Zurlo, a researcher from the Chilean Universidad Diego Portales.
V960 Mon Star
V960 Mon is a young star located an impressive 5,000 light-years away from us. It resides in the constellation of Monoceros
The stunning image showcases the formation of planetary systems, offering invaluable insights into the birth of planets…
