.. article copy-and-pasted from the website titled "Daily Galaxy".. article written by Jessica Bennett.. (Bennett spelled with two "n" 's .. and two "t" 's.. )..

Sponsored Daily Galaxy 47.6K Followers Astronomers Snap Rare Photo of Baby Planet Forming Around Sun-Like Star Story by Jessica Bennett • 4d • 4 min read Astronomers Snap Rare Photo of Baby Planet Forming Around Sun-Like Star | The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel Astronomers Snap Rare Photo of Baby Planet Forming Around Sun-Like Star | The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel © Daily Galaxy CA An international team of astronomers has made a landmark discovery by capturing an image of a giant planet forming within a multi-ringed disk around a young star—only the second confirmed case of its kind. The discovery, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, was led by researchers from Leiden University, the University of Galway, and the University of Arizona, and offers a rare glimpse into the early stages of planet formation that could reshape our understanding of how solar systems evolve. Most Sold Motion Simulators Worldwide Ad Most Sold Motion Simulators Worldwide DOF Reality Corp call to action icon more An Unlikely Breakthrough In A Stellar Nursery The newly discoveredplanet, WISPIT 2b, orbits a young sun-like star located in a little-studied stellar group. What makes this detection extraordinary is not just the planet itself—a gas giant estimated to be five times the mass of Jupiter—but the environment in which it was found. The planet is embedded within a spectacular multi-ringed protoplanetary disk extending 380 astronomical units, or 380 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun. Observations captured using the ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile revealed the planet glowing in near-infrared light, a signature of its still-active formation process. The discovery was unplanned. The team originally set out to capture short “snapshot” observations of several young stars, hoping to spot any nearby planetary candidates. As Dr. Christian Ginski from the University of Galway recounted, “When we saw this multi-ringed disk for the first time, we knew we had to try and see if we could detect a planet within it, so we quickly asked for follow-up observations.” These subsequent observations confirmed the presence of WISPIT 2b—making it not only the second such young planet directly imaged, but the first ever unambiguous detection in a multi-ringed disk, a crucial step forward for astrophysics. Image Image © Daily Galaxy CA WISPIT 2b: A Rare Window Into Planetary Genesis WISPIT 2b represents a critical missing piece in the timeline of planetary formation. While thousands of exoplanets have been discovered in various stages of maturity, imaging them during the earliest and most turbulent phase of their development has proven extremely elusive. This difficulty stems from the opacity of dust disks and the faintness of planets during formation. In WISPIT 2b’s case, its formation phase makes it hot and luminous enough in infrared to stand out against the backdrop of the disk, making it visible with state-of-the-art instruments. Related video: Cosmic first: Scientists spy the birth of planets outside solar system (The Canadian Press) Current Time 0:00 / Duration 1:37 The Canadian Press Cosmic first: Scientists spy the birth of planets outside solar system 0 View on Watch View on Watch Dr. Ginski emphasized the scientific importance of this opportunity: “Capturing an image of these forming planets has proven extremely challenging and it gives us a real chance to understand why the many thousands of older exoplanet systems out there look so diverse and so different from our own solar system. I think many of our colleagues who study planet formation will take a close look at this system in the years to come.” The planet’s visibility in both near-infrared and visible wavelengths—confirmed using a separate instrument by a team from the University of Arizona—further suggests it is still actively accreting gas, meaning its atmosphere is still forming. This provides real-time insights into planet-disk interaction, a phenomenon previously only modeled or theorized. Image Image © Daily Galaxy CA Multi-Ringed Disks And Their Secrets The intricate structure of the protoplanetary disk in which WISPIT 2b resides was also a surprise. Rather than a featureless spread of gas and dust, the disk shows multiple concentric rings—structures thought to be sculpted by forming planets themselves. These rings may help regulate accretion and migration of planets, but until now, a definitive link between such disks and planetary formation had remained elusive. Shop montreal patches - Amazon.ca Official Site - Low Priced montreal patches Ad Shop montreal patches - Amazon.ca Official Site - Low Priced montreal patches amazon.ca call to action icon more This discovery therefore does not merely confirm the existence of WISPIT 2b, but also validates disk substructure as a possible planetary signature. With clearer evidence of disk-planet interaction, researchers now have a powerful tool to identify other planets-in-formation. The sheer clarity of the VLT imagery offers a benchmark, prompting several teams to prioritize WISPIT 2 for future observation campaigns. Early-Career Scientists Take The Lead One of the most inspiring aspects of the project was the composition of the research team. The study was led by early-career scientists, including Ph.D. student Richelle van Capelleveen of Leiden University, who played a key role in coordinating observations and analysis. “Discovering this planet was an amazing experience—we were incredibly lucky. WISPIT 2, a young version of our sun, is located in a little-studied group of young stars, and we did not expect to find such a spectacular system. This system will likely be a benchmark for years to come.” The Mystical Witch Statue is Taking Ontario by Storm Ad The Mystical Witch Statue is Taking Ontario by Storm IIIPU call to action icon more Dr. Ginski echoed this admiration: “We were so fortunate to have these incredible young researchers on the case. This is the next generation of astrophysicists who I am sure will make more breakthrough discoveries in the years to come.” The project also involved graduate students from the University of Galway, some of whom described the work as “career-defining” and “mind-blowing”—a testament to the unique opportunity that such a high-impact discovery offers early researchers. Enjoyed this article? Subscribe to our free newsletter for engaging stories, exclusive content, and the latest news. For more news like this, visit Dailygalaxy.com. 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