Baby Exoplanet Discovered Using Clumps of Dust

Using a new method of analysis on images from ALMA Observatory, scientists have discovered a Neptune or Saturn size exoplanet forming in a distant protoplanetary disk.

IMAGE: Artist’s illustration of a small Saturn-like planet discovered in the system LkCa 15. The planet resides within dense rings of dust and gas that surround a bright yellow star. Material accumulates in a clump and arc-shape, about 60 degrees away from the planet. Note: This illustration is not to scale. CREDIT: M.Weiss/Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

Understanding the evolution of planets is one of the most important aspects of understanding planetary…