WISPIT 2: A Young Solar System Taking Shape

Astronomers directly observed two planets forming around the very young star WISPIT 2, about 437 light-years away. A distant giant, WISPIT 2b, sits at 57 AU with ~5 Jupiter masses, while a closer planet, WISPIT 2c, lies at 14 AU with 8–12 Jupiter masses. The system’s disk shows multiple rings and gaps, hinting at a possible third planet and offering a rare glimpse into how our Solar System may have formed; future imaging with the Extremely Large Telescope could reveal more.