Unlocking Planetary Secrets in a Cosmic Trifecta: How a Three-Star System Holds Clues to Planet Formation
A team of scientists has made a stunning discovery that challenges conventional wisdom about how planets form. They focused on GG Tau A, a rare triple-star system located 489 light-years away, and found that frost may be key in the formation of planets.
GG Tau A: more than meets the eye
Unlike our single-star solar system, GG Tau A boasts three stars locked in a delicate dance. This cosmic ballet presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
GG Tau is extremely young at just 1 to 5 million years old. This makes it an ideal candidate for studying the early stages of planet formation. The system boasts a protoplanetary disk, a swirling ring of gas and dust that is the birthplace of planets. Their temperature-12 to 16 Kelvin – is surprisingly frigid.
“Traditional thinking suggests planets arise from a disk of readily available gas and dust,” Explains Dr.
Li Mura
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. The cold, icy environment of GG Tau A to pinpoint. Express”Angel)*