How To 'Weigh' An Infant Solar System
Monday, December 10, 2012 - 06:01
in Astronomy & Space
In the constellation Taurus, astronomers have found the youngest still-forming solar system yet seen - an infant star called L1527 IRS, surrounded by a swirling disk of dust and gas 450 light-years from Earth. The star only has about one-fifth the mass of the Sun, but will likely pull in material from its surroundings and eventually match the Sun's mass. The disk surrounding the young star contains at least enough mass to make seven Jupiters, the largest planet in our Solar System. read more