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Clues to Forming Planets Around Young Star RIK 113
15 Jul 2025
Observations of a young star reveal promising signs of planet formation.
© ESO/C. Ginski et al.
Astronomers have gained new insights into planet formation by studying the young star RIK 113, which is surrounded by a dense cloud of gas and dust known as a protoplanetary disk. This disk contains the raw materials from which planets are born. Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), researchers discovered a striking gap in the disk—possibly carved out by a forming planet. Motivated by this finding, a second team led by Christian Ginski (University of Galway) used the SPHERE instrument on the ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) to observe the star in more detail. They identified spiral-shaped structures in the inner disk, providing further hints of planetary influence. The combined data suggest that not just one, but potentially two young planets may be taking shape. While these are still indirect indications, they offer exciting evidence of early planet formation as only a single clear detection of planets in their natal disk is known so far.