For the first time, astronomers witness the dawn of a new solar system – ESO Press Release

International researchers have, for the first time, pinpointed the moment when planets began to form around a star beyond the Sun. Using the ALMA telescope, in which the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is a partner, and the James Webb Space Telescope, they have observed the creation of the first specks of planet-forming material — hot minerals just beginning to solidify. This finding marks the first time a planetary system has been identified at such an early stage in its formation and opens a window to the past of our own Solar System – Read the full story on:

Questa è HOPS-315, una stella neonata in cui gli astronomi hanno osservato prove delle prime fasi della formazione planetaria. L'immagine è stata scattata con l'Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), di cui l'ESO è partner. Insieme ai dati del James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), queste osservazioni mostrano che i minerali caldi stanno iniziando a solidificarsi. In arancione vediamo la distribuzione del monossido di carbonio, che si allontana dalla stella con un vento a forma di farfalla. In blu vediamo uno stretto getto di monossido di silicio, anch'esso irradiato dalla stella. Questi venti e getti gassosi sono comuni intorno a stelle neonate come HOPS-315. Insieme, le osservazioni di ALMA e JWST indicano che, oltre a queste caratteristiche, c'è anche un disco di monossido di silicio gassoso attorno alla stella che si sta condensando in silicati solidi – le prime fasi della formazione planetaria - Crediti: ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/M. McClure et al.
This is HOPS-315, a baby star where astronomers have observed evidence for the earliest stages of planet formation. The image was taken with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which ESO is a partner. Together with data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), these observations show that hot minerals are beginning to solidify.
In orange we see the distribution of carbon monoxide, blowing away from the star in a butterfly-shaped wind. In blue we see a narrow jet of silicon monoxide, also beaming away from the star. These gaseous winds and jets are common around baby stars like HOPS-315.
Together the ALMA and JWST observations indicate that, in addition to these features, there is also a disc of gaseous silicon monoxide around the star that is condensing into solid silicates –– the first stages of planetary formation.

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