🔭 This observation suggests everything could come from the asteroid belt

Located 1,300 light-years away, a newborn star named HOPS-315 offers a unique window into the earliest moments of planetary formation.

Thanks to the James Webb and ALMA telescopes, scientists have observed for the first time the condensation of hot minerals around this star. These crystals, composed mainly of silicon monoxide, mark the beginning of the creation of future planets. This discovery recalls the conditions that presided over the birth of our own Solar System.


The international team behind this discovery used combined data from two of the most powerful observatories. The James Webb Space Telescope identified the presence of gaseous silicon monoxide, while ALMA precisely located these signals in the protoplanetary disk.

These observations suggest that the first solids form in a zone equivalent to that of the asteroid belt in our Solar System, which could lead us to reconsider the origin and role of our own asteroid belt in the history of our solar system.

Researchers compare HOPS-315 to a 'baby Sun', offering a glimpse of what our star looked like in its early days. The observed minerals are similar to those found in the oldest meteorites in our Solar System. This similarity reinforces the idea that planetary formation processes are universal.

This study, published in Nature, opens new perspectives on understanding planet formation. It shows how cutting-edge astronomy technologies allow us to travel back in time to observe the origins of planetary systems. HOPS-315 now serves as a model for studying the earliest stages of planet formation in the Universe.

How do hot minerals become planets?

The process begins with the condensation of hot gases into tiny solid crystals. These crystals, mainly silicon monoxide, gradually clump together to form larger dust grains.

Over time, these grains assemble under the effect of gravity, creating increasingly massive bodies. These clusters eventually become planetesimals, the building blocks of future planets.

In the case of HOPS-315, observations show that this process is underway. Scientists estimate these minerals could one day form rocky planets similar to Earth.

Why is HOPS-315 so special?

HOPS-315 is a very young star, still in its formation phase. It represents a rare opportunity to study the conditions that prevailed during the birth of our own Solar System.

Protoplanetary disks like that of HOPS-315 are natural laboratories for understanding planet formation. They contain all the ingredients needed to create new worlds.

The relative proximity of HOPS-315, at 1,300 light-years, allows modern telescopes to study it in detail. This makes it a privileged subject of study for astronomers.