The Formation of a New Planet

Dr. John Carr, a scientist at the US Naval Research Lab, luckily stumbled upon what he believes to be the formation of a new planet orbiting a star known as HD 100546. Dr. Carr and his team were studying the protoplanetary disk around this star when they noticed the formation of gas inside of it. The team was studying the warm gas in this disk using a technique called spectro-astrometry, which allows astronomers to detect small changes in the position of moving gas. Dr. Carr and his team discovered an "extra" source of gaseous emission from carbon monoxide molecules that could not be explained by the protoplanetary disk alone. Over the years, they tracked the changes in velocity and position of this extra emission and they were able to determine that it is orbiting around the star.  Carr determined the planet was in the very early stages so instead of seeing a physical planet, he is seeing the gas orbiting around to form the planet. I find this interesting because I have always had a fascination with space and it is cool that the result of extra carbon monoxide molecules can lead to the formation of a new planet. 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140908121511.htm


Submitted by Marc Longe