New Study Reveals Early Planets May Have Been Flat

Research using advanced simulations suggests that young planets initially form as oblate spheroids before evolving into spherical shapes.

Scientists at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) have discovered that young planets might start off with flattened shapes.
The study employed supercomputer simulations to model planet formation, challenging the traditional core accretion theory.
Protoplanets are found to gather more material at their poles than their equators, leading to an oblate spheroid shape.
Observations of young planets through telescopes could confirm the disc instability model of planet formation.
The research offers a new perspective on the early stages of planet formation and has been accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters.