Thermal dust emission from the protoplanetary disk surrounding the young star Elias 2-27 clearly shows a spiral structure. Credit: B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF); ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO); L. Pérez (MPIfR)
Astronomers have found distinct spiral arms in the disk of gas and dust surrounding the young star Elias 2-27. This is the first time they have been identified within the disk, where planet formation takes place. Structures such as these could either indicate the presence of a newly formed planet, or else create the necessary conditions for a planet to form. As such, the results are a crucial step towards a better understanding how planetary systems like our Solar system came into being...
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