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Astronomers Confirm Mineral Condensation Signaling Planet Birth Around Protostar HOPS-315

The observation marks a milestone in real-time studies of mineral condensation in planet formation, paving the way for tracking grain growth.

This is HOPS-315, a baby star where astronomers have observed evidence for the earliest stages of planet formation. The image was taken with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which ESO is a partner. Together with data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), these observations show that hot minerals are beginning to solidify. In orange we see the distribution of carbon monoxide, blowing away from the star in a butterfly-shaped wind. In blue we see a narrow jet of silicon monoxide, also beaming away from the star. These gaseous winds and jets are common around baby stars like HOPS-315. Together the ALMA and JWST observations indicate that, in addition to these features, there is also a disc of gaseous silicon monoxide around the star that is condensing into solid silicates –– the first stages of planetary formation. Credit: ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/M. McClure et al.
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Overview

  • Silicon monoxide gas was observed condensing into crystalline silicate minerals at about 2.2 astronomical units from HOPS-315.
  • The protostar HOPS-315 is estimated to be 100,000 to 200,000 years old and lies roughly 1,300 light-years away in the Orion constellation.
  • Combined data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and ESO’s ALMA telescope enabled the direct detection of early grain assembly.
  • The observations validate theoretical models that propose mineral condensation precedes the buildup of planetesimals.
  • Research teams are planning follow-up observations to monitor grain growth and to search for similar protoplanetary systems.