Four annular structures in a protostellar disk less than 500,000 years old | Nature

Four annular structures in a protostellar disk less than 500,000 years old | Nature



This artist’s impression shows an embryonic star that is less than 500,000 years old. The protostar, called IRS 63, is so young that its birth cloud of gas and dust is still collapsing to form the star and its protostellar disk. The series of rings and gaps could be signs of planetary formation (the rings in the actual system are very faint and are shown more prominently here, for clarity). The findings cast light on the earliest time at which planets can start to form. (Nature | 6 min read)
Reference: Nature paper