Protoplanetary Disks

December 19, 2024

Protoplanetary disks, also known as circumstellar disks, are rotating disks of dense gas and dust surrounding young stars. These disks are the birthplaces of planets, where material gradually coalesces to form planetary bodies. Recent observations have provided groundbreaking insights into these fascinating structures.

Protoplanetary disks have revealed evidence of massive planets forming around very old stars, suggesting that planet formation occurred early in the universe's history. Observations have shown that many stars, believed to be only 20 to 30 million years old, still possess planet-forming disks, challenging the conventional belief that these disks dissipate after 2 or 3 million years.

Building on these discoveries, recent detailed observations have confirmed the presence of planet-forming disks and shown that these disks are longer-lived than previously thought. This finding is causing scientists to rethink current models of planet formation. It has been observed that stars, which lack large amounts of heavy elements, still have planet-forming disks and are in the process of accreting material. This suggests that planets have more time to form and grow around these stars than previously believed. From recent NASA observations, they now have shown that there's at least one planet around almost every star. Learn more about planetary disks and Hubble from NASA.

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