For The first time in history Astronomers were able to witness a planet being born outside out solar
system. After conducting studies for years they were able to focus in on a phenomenon that ended up
being the process when a planet is born. This is something that has never been seen or documented
previously in any known records of history. They have discovered over one thousand nine hundred
planets discovered outside of our solar system to date. These however are the first anyone has
documented or seen forming. This information was published in a journal called Nature and provided
detailed information about gases and dust come together to form a planet.
How Are Planets Born?
Scientists were able follow the beginning to the end result in what appears to be the birth of
possibly three planets. As they were watching the swirling of dust and gas surrounding the star known
as Lick-Calcium 15 (LkCa 15). After five years of watching and studying they finally saw the end
result that they named LkCa 15 b and LkCa 15 c have been created. The third planet will be known as
LkCa 15 d if it does indeed form into a planet. This process has been called accretion and it means
small particles such as gas, dust grains, and tiny meteoroids have come together to form larger bodies.
Originally the saw the light emissions caused by hot gases falling onto the first forming planet.
All About The Two Planets
LkCa 15 b orbits the star LkCa 15 about two point five billion kilometers from it. It is a massive
gas planet much like Jupiter but many times larger. LkCa 15 c was located in a cleared out area with
the possible third planet forming nearby. The scientists could see the star and the disk of material
circling around it and then see a nice empty space where the planets are forming and the material keeps
pouring into the planets' rotation. They have seen parts of this process individually before but this is the
first time they could witness the complete process from beginning to end. They have been attempting to
see faint planets behind the fiery brightness of a glaring star. This process has shown scientists exactly
how the particles can come together to create a planet combined with the gases. They are excited that
that can now say they know how each step happens from the creation of the star to the way the planet
was formed from left over dust and gas left behind by the star.
In Conclusion
Now scientists can give us a defined and drawn out list of steps from the beginning of a star to
the creation of planets to are created around it after it is formed. This is a massive step for astronomers
around the world. It is also great information for those who enjoy star gazing to have a better idea of
how our solar system and those around us work.