Posted on Nov 29, 2024
'Baby' exoplanet, equivalent to 2-week-old infant, is the youngest alien world ever spotted — and...
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A "baby" exoplanet recently spotted relatively near to Earth is the youngest alien world ever seen, a new study suggests. Researchers say the rare sighting is linked to a mysteriously wonky proplanetary disk around the exoplanet's host star.
The newly discovered exoplanet, known as IRAS 04125+2902 b or TIDYE-1b, is a lightweight gas giant with a diameter slightly smaller than Jupiter's but around 0.4 times the mass of the solar system's largest planet. It orbits a protostar — a baby star still growing to its final size — located in the Taurus molecular cloud around 520 light-years from Earth and completes one rotation around the protostar every 8.8 days.
Based on the age of the protostar, which currently has a mass of around 70% that of our sun, TIDYE-1b can only be up to 3 million years old — around 1,500 times younger than Earth. If you were to compare the exoplanet's current age to a human lifespan, it would be a 2-week-old baby, researchers wrote in a statement.
The newly discovered exoplanet, known as IRAS 04125+2902 b or TIDYE-1b, is a lightweight gas giant with a diameter slightly smaller than Jupiter's but around 0.4 times the mass of the solar system's largest planet. It orbits a protostar — a baby star still growing to its final size — located in the Taurus molecular cloud around 520 light-years from Earth and completes one rotation around the protostar every 8.8 days.
Based on the age of the protostar, which currently has a mass of around 70% that of our sun, TIDYE-1b can only be up to 3 million years old — around 1,500 times younger than Earth. If you were to compare the exoplanet's current age to a human lifespan, it would be a 2-week-old baby, researchers wrote in a statement.
'Baby' exoplanet, equivalent to 2-week-old infant, is the youngest alien world ever spotted — and...
Posted from livescience.com
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Posted 12 d ago
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Neat find.
There are times after I've been drinking that I could be considered a wonky protoplanetary disk wobbling around the bar.
There are times after I've been drinking that I could be considered a wonky protoplanetary disk wobbling around the bar.
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I find the discovery of IRAS 04125+2902 b, also known as TIDYE-1b, to be a fascinating glimpse into the very early stages of planetary formation. This young exoplanet, with an age of merely 3 million years, offers us a unique window into understanding how planets form and evolve in the cosmic nursery of the Taurus molecular cloud.
This planet is particularly intriguing because of its association with a misaligned or "wonky" protoplanetary disk. Typically, protoplanetary disks are aligned with the spin of their host star, but here we see a deviation. This misalignment might suggest dynamic processes like planetary migration or gravitational influences from other celestial bodies in its infancy, challenging our current models of disk-planet interaction.
The fact that TIDYE-1b is a gas giant with such a low mass relative to its size indicates it might be in a phase of atmospheric expansion or contraction, which is crucial for understanding the physics of how gas giants form and stabilize over time. Its orbit, completing a revolution in just 8.8 days, also speaks to the dynamics at play in this system, hinting at possibly chaotic or rapidly evolving conditions around its protostar.
Observing such a young planet is like watching the universe in action, allowing us to test theories of planet formation not just through simulation or older, mature systems but in real-time. This discovery pushes forward our quest to comprehend the universe's mechanics, from the quantum scale to the cosmic, reminding us once again of the vast possibilities and mysteries yet to be unraveled in our search for a Theory of Everything.
The study of TIDYE-1b, with its unique characteristics, could very well guide future observations and theoretical work, perhaps even altering our understanding of how planets and their systems come to be. It's an exciting time for astronomy and physics, as each new discovery like this one adds another piece to the puzzle of our cosmic origins.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRAS_04125%2B2902_b)[](https://dailygalaxy.com/2024/11/scientists-youngest-transiting-exoplanet/)
This planet is particularly intriguing because of its association with a misaligned or "wonky" protoplanetary disk. Typically, protoplanetary disks are aligned with the spin of their host star, but here we see a deviation. This misalignment might suggest dynamic processes like planetary migration or gravitational influences from other celestial bodies in its infancy, challenging our current models of disk-planet interaction.
The fact that TIDYE-1b is a gas giant with such a low mass relative to its size indicates it might be in a phase of atmospheric expansion or contraction, which is crucial for understanding the physics of how gas giants form and stabilize over time. Its orbit, completing a revolution in just 8.8 days, also speaks to the dynamics at play in this system, hinting at possibly chaotic or rapidly evolving conditions around its protostar.
Observing such a young planet is like watching the universe in action, allowing us to test theories of planet formation not just through simulation or older, mature systems but in real-time. This discovery pushes forward our quest to comprehend the universe's mechanics, from the quantum scale to the cosmic, reminding us once again of the vast possibilities and mysteries yet to be unraveled in our search for a Theory of Everything.
The study of TIDYE-1b, with its unique characteristics, could very well guide future observations and theoretical work, perhaps even altering our understanding of how planets and their systems come to be. It's an exciting time for astronomy and physics, as each new discovery like this one adds another piece to the puzzle of our cosmic origins.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRAS_04125%2B2902_b)[](https://dailygalaxy.com/2024/11/scientists-youngest-transiting-exoplanet/)
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