Scientists have discovered a new planet, WISPIT 2b, orbiting a sun-like star, revealing a stunning, multi-ringed dust disk at an early stage of its formation.
Discovery of WISPIT 2b
Researchers announced the detection of WISPIT 2b in “The Astrophysical Journal Letters.” The gas giant, comparable in size to Jupiter, orbits a star similar to the Sun and was observed at an extremely early stage of its evolution, estimated to be around five million years old.
Methods and Unexpected Findings
Dr. Christian Ginski from the University of Galway explained the discovery process: “We used very short, snapshot observations of many young stars, only a few minutes per object, to check if we could spot a small dot indicating a planet’s presence. However, with this star, we detected something completely unexpected—a remarkably beautiful multi-ringed dust disk.” Upon seeing the images, the team immediately requested further observations to confirm the presence of a planet.
Scientist’s Reaction to the Discovery
Jake Byrne, one of the scientists involved in observing WISPIT 2b, emphasized its significance: “This planet is an extraordinary discovery. I almost couldn’t believe it was a real detection when Dr. Ginski first showed me the captured images. It’s undoubtedly a massive object. This will certainly spark debate in the scientific community and expand our understanding of planetary formation processes.”
Second of Its Kind in History
Dust disks surrounding young stars are cradles for planetary formation. The disk around WISPIT 2b spans 380 astronomical units—about 380 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. This observation marks only the second confirmed case of detecting a planet orbiting a sun-like star at such an early developmental stage. The first discovery of this type occurred in 2018, also involving Dr. Christian Ginski’s team.
Source: Gazeta, The Astrophysical Journal Letters
