Common planets' origins traced in four young worlds

Researchers observed four young planets around the star V1298 Tau and report they appear to be evolving into super-Earths and sub-Neptunes, the most common planet types; the work is published in Nature.

Researchers observed four young planets growing around the star V1298 Tau and report these objects appear to be on track to become the most common planet types in the galaxy. The finding is notable because many known exoplanets are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune, while our solar system has none of these intermediate-size worlds. Planets form when clouds of gas and dust collapse into a star with a surrounding protoplanetary disk, and young planets can gain or lose material as they evolve. The new work is described in a Nature paper titled "A young progenitor for the most common planetary systems in the Galaxy." Key findings: - The team watched four infant planets around V1298 Tau that appear to be evolving into sizes consistent with super-Earths and sub-Neptunes. - John Livingston of the Astrobiology Center in Tokyo is listed as the study's lead author. - UCLA professor Erik Petigura, a collaborator, described V1298 Tau as a link between star-forming nebulae and mature planetary systems. - The result addresses a long-standing question because most exoplanets found so far fall between Earth and Neptune in size. - The observations are presented in the Nature paper referenced by the authors. Summary: The observations provide a direct preview of how common super-Earth and sub-Neptune planets may form, connecting early protoplanetary stages to mature systems. Authors report the four planets studied will likely contract into those common types. Undetermined at this time.