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Wispit 2b

All articles tagged with #wispit 2b

First Image Captures a Baby Planet Forming in a Star's Ring
science6 months ago

First Image Captures a Baby Planet Forming in a Star's Ring

Scientists have captured images of a tiny baby planet, WISPIT 2b, forming inside its star's ring, making it the first of its kind to be directly observed in this way. Located 437 light-years away, this gas giant is just five million years old and was spotted within a gap in the protoplanetary disk of its star, WISPIT, using advanced telescopes. The discovery also hints at a possible second planet forming in the same system.

Irish Astronomers Discover a Stunning New Planet in Formation
science7 months ago

Irish Astronomers Discover a Stunning New Planet in Formation

Astronomers, including researchers from Galway, have discovered a new planet, WISPIT 2b, around a young star using ESO's VLT in Chile. This five-million-year-old gas giant, similar in size to Jupiter, was detected in infrared and visible light, providing insights into early planet formation. The discovery, made in a dust disk with multiple rings, is only the second of its kind around a star this young, offering valuable data for understanding planetary development.