Astronomers Discover Baby Planets Taking Their First Steps in Nearby Stellar Nursery

Astronomers have detected early signs of planet formation in 27 young protoplanetary disks within the Ophiuchus star-forming region, just 460 light-years away. High-resolution imaging revealed spiral and ring patterns forming earlier than expected, suggesting stars and planets may grow together from infancy. The findings bridge a knowledge gap between previous ALMA studies of younger and older stellar systems.