Protoplanetary disks are much smaller than previously thought, new study finds

"We've Been Wrong For A Long Time": Protoplanetary Disks Are Much Smaller Than We Thought

A new study could help explain our gas giants, and distinct lack of super-Earths.

Protoplanetary disks are much smaller than previously thought, new study finds

Many protoplanetary disks in which new planets are formed are much smaller than thought. Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) scientists of the Leiden Observatory (the Netherlands) looked at 73 protoplanetary disks in the Lupus region. They found that many young stars host modest disks of gas and dust, some as small as 1.2 astronomical units. The research, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics, establishes…

New data reveals most planet-forming disks are far smaller than expected

A recent survey using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has revealed that small protoplanetary disks — rings of dust and gas that give birth to planets — are far more common than previously believed. The findings, based on 2023–2024 observations of 73 young stars in the Lupus region, suggest that many planetary systems form […] The post New data reveals most planet-forming disks are far smaller than expected appeared first …

Immediately after their formation, the stars are surrounded by a massive disk of gas and dust in which a planetary system can form in a few million years. Dust particles – the essential bricks of future planets, asteroids and comets – that they contain have sizes ranging from micron (typical interstellar medium) to millimetres, or even more. To form even larger bodies, the current models indicate that it is necessary to concentrate these dusts i…

Many protoplanetary disks where new planets are formed are much smaller than previously observed, according to a new analysis of 73 such structures in the Lupus region with the ALMA telescope.

Many protoplanetary discs in which new planets are formed are much smaller than what thought. Using scientists from the large matrix / submillimetric of Atacama (ALMA) of the Leiden Observatory (Netherlands) examined 73 protoplanetary discs of the Lupus region. They found that many young people [...]