– Astronomers are using the James Webb Space Telescope to hunt for planets forming around young stars by observing protoplanetary disks, the disks of dust and gas where planets grow.
– JWST observed the protoplanetary disks around three young stars – HL Tau, SAO 206462, and MWC 758.
– For SAO 206462, the team discovered a possible planet located far from the star, which would be unusual for a gas giant planet. They were unable to conclusively detect the planet predicted to cause the disk’s spiral structure.
– For HL Tau, the very young age and dense dust clouds obscure any direct detection of forming planets, but JWST provided new insights into the disk structure.
– For MWC 758, no planets were detected, but constraints were placed on any potential planets within the disk.
– Overall, JWST did not detect the planets thought to be sculpting certain disk features, suggesting those planets are still enshrouded or of lower mass than expected.
– The research provides new data to help understand how planets and planetary systems form and evolve over time.
Source: space
