New Exoplanet Discovery Sheds Light On Planet Formation
For the first time ever, scientists have discovered an exoplanet in the process of forming! This finding is incredibly exciting, as it is the first time we’ve been able to witness planet formation in real-time. The exoplanet, called PDS 70b, is located about 370 light-years away in the constellation of Centaurus. It is estimated to be about 5 million years old and is about 4 times the mass of Jupiter. Scientists believe that PDS 70b is still in the process of forming, because they were able to observe the planet surrounded by a protoplanetary disk. This disk contains gas and dust, which is likely the material that is being used to form PDS 70b. This discovery is incredibly exciting, as it gives us a unique insight into the planet formation process.
source: Phys.org