Young star systems are a place of violent collisions. Rocks, comets, asteroids and larger objects bounce off one another and occasionally coalesce, gradually turning the primordial dust and ice of […]
proto-planetary disk
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
First-ever Detection Of Heavy Water In A Planet-forming Disk
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have made a first-ever detection of doubly deuterated water (D2O, or “heavy water”) in a planet-forming disk around V883 Ori, a young […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Detailed Microwave Continuum Spectra from Bright Protoplanetary Disks in Taurus
We present new observations that densely sample the microwave (4-360 GHz) continuum spectra from eight young systems in the Taurus region.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Beta Pictoris, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Follow-Up Exploration Of The TWA 7 Planet-Disk System With JWST NIRCam
The young M-star TWA 7 hosts a bright and near face-on debris disk, which has been imaged from the optical to the submillimeter.
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gas Giants, Status Report
On Linking Planet Formation Models, Protoplanetary Disk Properties, and Mature Gas Giant Exoplanet Atmospheres
Measuring a single elemental ratio (e.g., carbon-to-oxygen) provides insufficient information for understanding the formation mechanisms and evolution that affect our observations of gas giant planet atmospheres.
 map showing disk contributions from both d203-506 and d203-504 objects. Green: the [Fe ii] (λ8617˚A) map corresponding to jets from both objects. Blue: the Hα emission map showing the ionization fronts (only d203-504 appears to have one). The glow on the top right corresponds to the Orion Bar ionization front. Right: JWST NIRCam image of the same system from the F210M filter. -- astro-ph.GA](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Solar-CO-ratio-in-planet.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
Solar C/O Ratio In Planet-forming Gas at 1 au In A Highly Irradiated Disk
The chemical composition of exoplanets is thought to be influenced by the composition of the disks in which they form. JWST observations have unveiled a variety of species in numerous […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
The First JWST View of a 30-Myr-old Protoplanetary Disk Reveals a Late-stage Carbon-rich Phase
We present a JWST MIRI/MRS spectrum of the inner disk of WISE J044634.16−262756.1B (hereafter J0446B), an old (∼34 Myr) M4.5 star but with hints of ongoing accretion. The spectrum is […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Planet-forming Discs Lived Longer In The Early Universe
In 2003, Hubble spotted a massive planet around a very old star, almost as old as the Universe. This implied that some planet formation happened when our Universe was very […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Icy Worlds, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Water Enrichment from Pebble Drift in Disks with Gap-forming Planets
Volatiles like H2O are present as ice in solids in the outer cold regions of protoplanetary disks and as vapor in the warm inner regions within the water snow line.