JWST Captures Unprecedented Detail of Planets Forming Around Star PDS 70
The telescope's innovative imaging techniques reveal new insights into the formation of two young planets and hint at a possible third within the system.
- The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has provided detailed observations of the PDS 70 system, located 370 light-years away, showcasing two young planets, PDS 70 b and PDS 70 c, in the process of formation.
- Using its Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) in Aperture Masking Interferometry mode, JWST revealed material accreting onto the planets, evidence of their ongoing growth.
- The observations suggest the presence of circumplanetary disks around the planets, which could play a critical role in moon formation and planetary development.
- The study, led by Canadian researchers, also detected a faint emission within the system's protoplanetary disk, which could indicate the presence of a third, yet-to-be-confirmed planet, PDS 70 d.
- This groundbreaking research offers a rare glimpse into the early stages of planetary formation, providing valuable insights into how planetary systems, including our own, develop over time.
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