In a groundbreaking study, astronomers have discovered a protoplanet, HD 100546 b, orbiting the star HD 100546, located in the constellation Musca. The protoplanet is estimated to be five times the mass of Jupiter and is the second-closest protoplanet to a star ever observed.

This discovery is a major breakthrough for astronomers, providing them with the opportunity to study the formation and evolution of exoplanets in unprecedented detail. The research team used the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the European Southern Observatory in Chile to observe the protoplanet, and their data revealed that it orbits its star at a distance of roughly 300 astronomical units (1 AU is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun). This makes HD 100546 b the second-closest protoplanet to a star ever observed.

The research team found that the protoplanet’s orbit is highly eccentric, meaning that it is not perfectly circular. This suggests that the protoplanet is still in the process of forming, which is an exciting prospect for astronomers. It also means that HD 100546 b may provide valuable insights into the formation of giant planets like our own Jupiter.

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source: Phys.org