Discovery of exoplanet Elias 2-24 b

Overview

Astronomers have confirmed the discovery of Elias 2-24 b, identified as the youngest known exoplanet. Located approximately 450 light-years (120 parsecs) from Earth, the planet is estimated to be less than one million years old and is roughly 2 to 4 times more massive than Jupiter.

The planet remains embedded within the protoplanetary disk of gas and dust surrounding its host star. Researchers utilized archival data from the W. M. Keck Observatory, including observations from 2018 and 2020, to confirm the object's identity by using a coronagraph to block stellar light.

This discovery challenges existing scientific models of planetary formation. While current theories suggest a Jupiter-sized planet at such a distance from its star should take approximately five million years to form, Elias 2-24 b has developed much more rapidly. The findings support the gravitational instability theory, though the speed and distance of this specific formation suggest that current models may still be missing critical processes.

Entities

Keck Observatory · The Astrophysical Journal Letters · Alma · NASA · Elias 2–24 b

Timeline

1 day ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
Elias 2–24 b identified as the youngest planet ever discovered
Astronomers have discovered Elias 2–24 b, the youngest known planet at under one million years old, challenging existing theories on how giant planets form at great distances from their stars.
4 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 6 sources
Elias 2-24 b confirmed as the youngest known exoplanet
Astronomers have discovered Elias 2-24 b, a Jupiter-sized exoplanet less than one million years old, challenging existing models of how quickly giant planets form.

Sources

earthsky.org · lrytas.lt · media.inaf.it · scitechdaily.com · spaceweekly.com · technaujienos.lt · time.news · ve.lt