Disk Survey News Today

Astronomers used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to investigate the chemical composition of the planet-forming disk around ISO-ChaI 147, a red dwarf star weighing just one-tenth as much as our Sun.

Would be named as PDS 70D

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted hints of a third planet in the disk of gas and dust that surrounds an infant star, as well as signs of moon formation.

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted hints of a third planet in the disk of gas and dust surrounding an infant star, as well as signs of moon formation.

Terrestrial and sub-Neptune planets are expected to form in the inner (less than 10 au) regions of protoplanetary disks1. Water plays a key role in their formation2–4, although it is yet unclear whether water molecules are formed in situ or transported from the outer disk5,6. So far Spitzer Space Telescope observations have only provided water luminosity upper limits for dust-depleted inner disks7, similar to PDS 70, the first system with direct confirmation of protoplanet presence8,...

The disk surrounding a young red dwarf contains a surprising mix of chemicals that could inform the search for life in these common systems.