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Scientists discover mirror of our solar system in 2 exoplanets forming around a star

Latest from Space.com·@RobertLea·2 months ago
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Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Astronomers have observed two planets forming around a distant infant star, thus discovering a planetary system that offers us a look at the appearance of the solar system over 4 billion years ago. The infant star in question is named WISPIT 2, and it's located around 437 light-years away with an estimated age of around 5.4 million years old. If that makes this star sound anything but an infant, consider that our middle-aged star, the sun, is 4.6 billion years old. WISPIT 2 is surrounded by a donut-shaped cloud of gas and dust called a protoplanetary disk in which scientists have now detected two planets, designated WISPIT 2b and WISPIT 2c. And excitingly, there are structural hints with WISPIT 2's protoplanetary disk of more forming protoplanets.…

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