Astronomers Discover Diverse New Planetary Systems Using the Very Large Telescope

In a groundbreaking survey, researchers have imaged 62 newly-forming planetary systems, revealing a surprising diversity in the shapes and sizes of protoplanetary disks.

• Astronomers used the Very Large Telescope in Chile to complete one of the largest surveys of planet-forming disks, imaging 62 new systems.
• The study observed 86 young stars in three different star-forming regions of our galaxy, finding a wide range of star-forming regions.
• The images show a variety of disk shapes, including huge spiral arms and large cavities, suggesting the presence of forming planets.
• Stars in systems with multiple stars were less likely to have large planet-forming disks, a significant finding given most stars have companions.
• The research, published in three papers in Astronomy & Astrophysics, marks a shift in the study of star systems to a broader overview of star-forming regions.

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