A solar system in the making? Two planets spotted forming in disk around young star
by ESO
edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
fact-checked
peer-reviewed publication
trusted source
proofread
Astronomers have observed two planets forming in the disk around a young star named WISPIT 2. Having previously detected one planet, the team has now employed European Southern Observatory (ESO) telescopes to confirm the presence of another. These observations, and the unique structure of the disk around the star, indicate that the WISPIT 2 system could resemble a young solar system.
"WISPIT 2 is the best look into our own past that we have to date," says Chloe Lawlor, Ph.D. student at the University of Galway, Ireland, and lead author of the study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The system is only the second known, after PDS 70, where two planets have been directly observed in the process of forming around their host star. Unlike PDS 70, however, WISPIT 2 has a very extended planet-forming disk with distinctive gaps and rings.
"These structures suggest that more planets are currently forming, which we will eventually detect," Lawlor says.
"WISPIT 2 gives us a critical laboratory not just to observe the formation of a single planet but an entire planetary system," says Christian Ginski, study co-author and researcher at the University of Galway.
With such observations, astronomers aim to better understand how baby planetary systems develop into mature ones, like our own.
The first newborn planet found in the system—named WISPIT 2b—was detected last year, with a mass almost five times that of Jupiter and orbiting the central star at around 60 times the distance between Earth and the sun.
"This detection of a new world in formation really showed the amazing potential of our current instrumentation," said Richelle van Capelleveen, Ph.D. student at Leiden Observatory, the Netherlands, and leader of the previous study.
After an additional object was identified near the star, measurements made with ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the VLT Interferometer (VLTI) confirmed its planetary nature. The new planet—WISPIT 2c—is four times closer to the central star and is twice as massive as WISPIT 2b. Both planets are gas giants, like the outer planets in our solar system.
To confirm the existence of WISPIT 2c, the team employed the SPHERE instrument on ESO's VLT, which captured an image of the object. The team then used the GRAVITY+ instrument on the VLTI to confirm that the object was indeed a planet.
"Critically, our study made use of the recent upgrade to GRAVITY+, without which we would not have been able to get such a clear detection of the planet so close to its star," says Guillaume Bourdarot, study co-author and researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, Germany.
Both planets in WISPIT 2 appear in clear gaps within the disk of dust and gas circling the young star. These gaps result from each planet's development: particles in the disk accumulate, their gravity pulling in more material until an embryo planet forms. The remaining material, around each gap, creates distinctive dust rings in the disk.
Besides the gaps in which the two planets were found, there is at least one smaller gap farther out in the WISPIT 2 disk.
"We suspect there may be a third planet carving out this gap," says Lawlor, "potentially of Saturn mass, owing to the gap being much narrower and shallower."
The team is eager to make follow-up observations, with Ginski noting, "With ESO's upcoming Extremely Large Telescope, we may be able to directly image such a planet."
Publication details
Chloe Lawlor et al, Direct spectroscopic confirmation of the young embedded proto-planet WISPIT 2c, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2026). www.eso.org/public/archives/re … eso2604/eso2604a.pdf
Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters
Key concepts
Exoplanet systems Protoplanetary disks
Provided by ESO
Citation: A solar system in the making? Two planets spotted forming in disk around young star (2026, March 24) retrieved 24 March 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-03-solar-planets-disk-young-star.htmlThis document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.0 shares
Let us know if there is a problem with our content
Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy, or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines).
Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request
-- please select one --Compliments / CritiqueTypos / Errors / InaccuraciesEdit / Removal requestYour message to the editorsYour email (optional, only if you'd like a response)Send Feedback
E-mail the story
A solar system in the making? Two planets spotted forming in disk around young star
Your friend's emailYour emailI would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Learn moreYour name
Note
Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form.
Your messageSend
