Recently, NASA achieved what until now seemed impossible: it captured, for the first time in history, a direct image of a “baby planet” forming around its star. The discovery was made possible thanks to the powerful James Webb Space Telescope, which allowed scientists to observe in detail a young solar system located about 400 light-years from Earth.
The planet, now identified as LkCa 15b, is still forming within a disk of gas and dust, offering researchers a unique opportunity to study how worlds are born. According to NASA, this observation confirms many long-standing theories about planetary formation that, until now, had only been verified through simulations or mathematical models.
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But what makes this image so special for science?
It is the first time a clear visual confirmation has been obtained of a planet in the very process of being born. This achievement not only marks a milestone in modern astronomy but could also help scientists better understand how our own solar system came into existence billions of years ago.
