Direct Confirmation Of Two Baby Planets Forming Around A Young Sun-like Star

The European Sourthern Observatory's Very Large Telescope imaged two planets forming around the young star WISPIT 2. They've both been confirmed with direct spectroscopy, which is the gold standard of exoplanet detection. The star in the system is very much like the young Sun, making this system a potential analogue for aspects of the formation of our own Solar System. (Credit: ESO/C. Lawlor, R. F. van Capelleveen et al.)

Astronomers have observed two planets forming in the disc around a young star named WISPIT 2. Having previously detected one planet, the team have now employed European Southern Observatory (ESO) telescopes to confirm the presence of another. These observations, and the unique structure of the disc around the star, indicate that the WISPIT 2 system could resemble our young Solar System.

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