The First Images of Planets in the Process of Formation
Steward astronomers have imaged forming planets for the first time. Steph Sallum and Kate Follette, working with Josh Eisner and Laird Close, observed the young star LkCa 15 using the Large Binocular Telescope and the Magellan Adaptive Optics system. LkCa 15 hosts a transition disk - a protoplanetary disk with an inner, solar-system-sized clearing. In the clearing they detect three points of light in the infrared, one of which is also seen in the visible, Hydrogen-alpha (H-alpha) emission line. The companions' infrared brightnesses agree with those expected for forming planets, and the H-alpha detection directly traces shocked hydrogen gas falling onto one of the protoplanets. The source positions, compared to previous observations taken at Keck, are consistent with circular orbits aligned with the outer disk. LkCa 15 is the first system in which astronomers can observe planet formation processes directly. You can see the UA press release HERE. The accepted journal article is at "Nature, vol 527, 342-344 (Nov 2015)." The Arizona Daily Star article can be foundHERE.
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