First Direct Glimpse of Planet Formation Around HOPS-315

Astronomers have, for the first time, directly observed the earliest stages of rocky planet formation around the young sun-like star HOPS-315, located about 1,300 light-years away in Orion. Using the James Webb Space Telescope and ALMA, they detected the condensation of hot minerals and silicon monoxide gas in the star’s protoplanetary disk, marking the foundational stage for rocky planets. This 'time zero' glimpse mirrors conditions thought to exist in our solar system's infancy, offering invaluable insight into planetary origins. The findings, published in Nature, represent the first direct evidence of such early planetesimal formation. Researchers liken HOPS-315 to a 'baby picture' of our own sun. The discovery confirms long-held theories and provides a new window into how planets like Earth begin to form.