Astronomers observed the birth of a new solar system for the first time

Early formation

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

Astronomers caught a glimpse of the formation of a new solar system 1,300 light-years away from the Earth.

A baby sun-like star

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

The system is forming around a protostar, or baby star, that will become similar to the sun. It was given the designation HOPS-315.

Photo: ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/M. McClure et al.

Millions of years

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

Right now, HOPS-315 is surrounded only by gas. However, the elements in that cloud are colliding and starting to form planets. The process will take millions of years.

Photo: ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/M. McClure et al.

The first observations of their kind

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

It is the first time scientists can directly observe the early stages of planet formation around a star; so far, they could only reactively study our own.

An international team

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

The international team of NASA's Webb Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) published the results of the observations in the journal Nature.

ALMA observatory

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

Astronomers used the ALMA Telescope in Chile to observe the gas cloud and found a gap in the outer part of the disk. It allowed them to peek deep into the newly forming star system.

Key elements

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

The researchers found solid specks condensing in the gas disk. They also detected the basic ingredients required for planet formation.

Silicon monoxide

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

Melissa McClure, who led the international research team, explained to AP News that they detected silicon monoxide gas and crystalline silicate minerals in the distant gas cloud.

Photo: ESO/L. Calçada/ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/M. McClure et al.

Similar to our beginning

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

Scientists know that silicon monoxide gas and crystalline silicate minerals were present during the formation of the planets and other solid bodies in our solar system.

Meteorites

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

Experts observed those elements in meteorites, which still carry the first records of planet formation in our solar system.

The final confirmation of a key theory

Early formation, A baby sun-like star, Millions of years, The first observations of their kind, An international team, ALMA observatory, Key elements, Silicon monoxide, Similar to our beginning, Meteorites, The final confirmation of a key theory

The new observations provide the first confirmation that condensation of hot minerals is common in planetary formation and not just a feature of our solar system.

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