Tokyo: Scientists have found signs of a baby planet thought to be an icy giant - similar to Uranus and Neptune - growing around a nearby star, a discovery that may help better understand the origins of various types of planets.
Astronomers spotted the planet around TW Hydra, a nearby young star, using the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) in Chile.
Based on the distance from the central star and the distribution of tiny dust grains, the baby planet is thought to be an icy giant, similar to Uranus and Neptune.
However, it is still unclear how this diversity emerges.
This star, estimated to be 10 million years old, is one of the closest young stars to Earth.
Past observations have shown that TW Hydrae is surrounded by a disk made of tiny dust particles. This disk is the site of planet formation. Recent ALMA observations show multiple gaps in the disk.
The team observed the disk around TW Hydrae with ALMA in two radio frequencies. Since the ratio of the radio intensities in different frequencies depends on the size of the dust grains, researchers can estimate the size of dust grains.
Theoretical studies have predicted that a gap in the disk is created by a massive planet, and that gravitational interaction and friction between gas and dust particles push the larger dust out from the gap, while the smaller particles remain in the gap.
Researchers calculated the mass of the unseen planet based on the width and depth of the 22 au gap and found that the planet is probably a little more massive than the Neptune.
"Combined with the orbit size and the brightness of TW Hydrae, the planet would be an icy giant planet like Neptune," said Mr Tsukagoshi.
Following this result, the team is planning further observations to better understand planet formation.
Astronomers spotted the planet around TW Hydra, a nearby young star, using the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) in Chile.
Based on the distance from the central star and the distribution of tiny dust grains, the baby planet is thought to be an icy giant, similar to Uranus and Neptune.
However, it is still unclear how this diversity emerges.
Advertisement
This star, estimated to be 10 million years old, is one of the closest young stars to Earth.
Advertisement
Past observations have shown that TW Hydrae is surrounded by a disk made of tiny dust particles. This disk is the site of planet formation. Recent ALMA observations show multiple gaps in the disk.
Advertisement
The team observed the disk around TW Hydrae with ALMA in two radio frequencies. Since the ratio of the radio intensities in different frequencies depends on the size of the dust grains, researchers can estimate the size of dust grains.
Advertisement
Theoretical studies have predicted that a gap in the disk is created by a massive planet, and that gravitational interaction and friction between gas and dust particles push the larger dust out from the gap, while the smaller particles remain in the gap.
Advertisement
Researchers calculated the mass of the unseen planet based on the width and depth of the 22 au gap and found that the planet is probably a little more massive than the Neptune.
"Combined with the orbit size and the brightness of TW Hydrae, the planet would be an icy giant planet like Neptune," said Mr Tsukagoshi.
Following this result, the team is planning further observations to better understand planet formation.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Windows Systems Restarting, Throwing Blue Screen Of Death Due To This Error Explained: What Is Causing The Dreaded 'Blue Screen Of Death' On Windows? Flights, Markets, Banks, Stock Exchange: Microsoft Outage Crippling Sectors 10 Health Benefits Of Tree Tea Oil Riots Break Out In London, Bus Set On Fire, Police Car Flipped Over Central Railways Jobs 2024: Applications For 2,424 Apprentice Posts Begin Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.