Exoplanet nurseries around infant stars can be much smaller than expected: 'It is astonishing'

image via Space.com

March 28, 2025, 4:00 PM

• •Astronomers have discovered that protoplanetary disks are generally smaller than previously thought.
• •Some are so small, in fact, they would neatly slot within Earth's orbit around the sun.
• •The team's observations have also revealed that these so-called 'protoplanetary disks' are more common than scientists had theorized, with small red dwarf stars also able to host them.

Astronomers have discovered that the flattened clouds of gas and dust around stars — nurseries that give birth to planets — are generally smaller than previously thought. Some are so small, in fact, they would neatly slot within Earth's orbit around the sun. Additionally, the team's observations, conducted with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), have revealed that these so-called "protoplanetary disks" are more common than scientists had theorized, with small red dwarf stars also able to host them.

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