These unpublished images reveal a cosmic scene that humanity had never managed to capture before

Recently, the European Austral Observatory (ESO) has announced a spectacular advance in understanding the formation of solar systems. For example, After having identified with precision the moment when the planets begin to form around an emerging star. Consequently, the astronomersastronomers could ” Attend the birth of a real time planet “, Declares Francesco Maio, doctoral student at the University of Florence and principal these unpublished images reveal cosmic author of the study published in Astronomy Astrophysics.

Indeed, they discovered a planet in formation around the youth HD 135344B star, located 440 light years from the earth. For example, This planet in the making is estimated twice the size of JupiterJupiter. Similarly, is at a distance comparable to that of NeptuneNeptune Compared to the sun.

Standing observation – These unpublished images reveal cosmic

In detail, the researchers observed a protoplanetary disc, made up of gas and dust, with characteristic spiral arms. This complex pattern is often associated with the gravitational influence of a protoplanet in training.

What makes this observation particularly significant is that it is the first time that scientists directly detect a protoplanet in. the process of shaping its environment. Previously, although similar these unpublished images reveal cosmic structures have been identified, no direct evidence of the presence of a protoplanet had been obtained.

Techniques. instruments used

To carry out this unprecedented observation, the astronomers of two different teams used two instruments of the Very Large TelescopeVery Large Telescope (Vlt) of the ESO. In 2016. members of a first team had detected these swirling spiral arms thanks to the Sphere instrument (Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch). However, the observations made at that time had not confirmed the presence of a planet in the disc.

Recently. a new team once again observed the HD 135344b star with another VLT instrument, Eris (Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph). It was with this new equipment that they located the planet candidate at the base of one of the spiral arms of the disc. exactly where the theories predicted that a protoplanet could be.

« What makes this detection a potential these unpublished images reveal cosmic turning point is that. unlike many previous observations, we are able to directly detect the protoplanet signal, which is still very buried in the discexplains Francesco Maio, of the observatory ofastrophysicsastrophysics d’Arcetri, a center of the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF). This gives us a much higher level of certainty as to the existence of the planet. because we observe its own light. »

Observations also revealed that the mattermatter Disc fragments according to a process known as “gravitational instability”. where large heaps of matter contract and collapse, each being able to give birth to a planet or a larger object.

Zoom on the young star HD 135344B and its candidate planet. © ESO

A promising advance

This research represents a significant advance in the field of astrophysics and the formation of planets. While researchers continue to explore these unpublished images reveal cosmic these processes. each new discovery enriches our understanding of the birth of the planets around young stars, as well as the dynamics of theUniverseUniverse in general. The implications of this study could also influence the future development of theoretical models on the training of planetary systems.

In short. this discovery could revolutionize our understanding of planetary training by illustrating how the planets sculpt their environment as they develop.