NASA spots two planets in formation process around TW Hydrae
Scientists have discovered two potential planets in the making around a star called TW Hydrae. The discovery is based on the detection of two shadows in a gas and dust disk surrounding the star, as reported by NASA. The red dwarf star is located nearly 200 light-years away from Earth and is less than 10 million years old, which makes it an excellent candidate for the study of planet formation.
The findings, published in the Astrophysical Journal, provide clues about how Earth and other planets in our solar system may have looked during their formation about 4.6 billion years ago. The researchers estimate that the two shadows are formed by two misaligned disks that are inclined about five to seven degrees relative to the plane of the outer disk, which is thought to be due to the gravitational force of the two planets in the making.
The lead author of the study, Dr. John Debes, who is also an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in the US, said that the research suggests that the two planets have to be fairly close to each other. He noted that if one was moving much faster than the other, this would have been noticed in earlier observations. He compared the situation to “two race cars that are close to each other, but one slowly overtakes and laps the other.”
The data was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and was analyzed by researchers. The first shadow was spotted in observations from 2016, while the second shadow was identified five years later, which confused scientists. The researchers believe that the suspected planets are located in a region roughly the distance of Jupiter from the Sun and the shadows complete one rotation around the star about every 15 years.
The lead author also noted that the shadows may suggest that the two planets are still in the early stages of formation. He added that if the two planets continue to grow, they could eventually clear out the disk between them and form a planetary system similar to our solar system.
The researchers also found a curious gap in the outer disk at twice Pluto’s average distance from the Sun, which may be possible evidence of a third planet in the star system. However, any inner planets would be difficult to detect because their light would be lost in the glare of the star and the surrounding dust would dim their reflected light.
The discovery of the two potential planets in the making around TW Hydrae is significant because it provides astronomers with a rare opportunity to study the process of planet formation. The researchers believe that the disk around TW Hydrae gives astronomers a “ringside seat” to how our solar system may have looked during its formative years.
The study also provides valuable insights into the architecture of planetary systems. The researchers noted that the tilted disks observed around TW Hydrae are similar to the tilted orbits of planets in our solar system. They added that the suspected planets are likely to have orbital planes that vary in tilt by a few degrees from each other, which is consistent with the architecture of our solar system.
The discovery of the two potential planets in the making around TW Hydrae is a testament to the power of modern telescopes and the advances in our understanding of the cosmos. It also highlights the importance of continued research in the field of astronomy, which could lead to new discoveries and a deeper understanding of the universe.
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The discovery of two shadows in the disk of gas and dust surrounding TW Hydrae suggests the formation of two potential planets. The study provides valuable insights into the process of planet formation and the architecture of planetary systems. The researchers believe that the disk around TW Hydrae gives astronomers a unique opportunity to study the early stages of planet formation and provides a “ringside seat” to how our solar system may have looked during its formative years.
