What We Don’t Know About Protoplanetary Disks
Protoplanetary disks may be the birth place of planets, but they also throw astronomers for a loop in today’s paper.
A protoplanetary disk on its side
What does a disk around a binary star look like? One possibility, recently observed around a young star for the first time, is that it is flipped on its side—its rotation is perpendicular to the orbit of the binary system!
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Dr. Lauren Ilsedore Cleeves
Exquisite measurements of physical and chemical properties of protoplanetary disks from ALMA hold important clues to the history of planet formation. Come listen to Dr. Lauren Ilsedore Cleeves’ plenary lecture at #AAS233 to know more!
Planetary Cookie Doughs at High Angular Resolution
On the third day of Christmas the ALMA gave to me, 20 highly resolved protoplanetary disks!
How can you tell if a young planet is migrating?
It is difficult to tell if planets embedded in their natal protoplanetary disks are migrating closer to their stars. The authors of today’s paper devise a new observational signature to figure that out.
How can planets be heavier than the disks that formed them?
Planets form from protoplanetary disks. How they can be heavier on average than the disks is questioning our theories of planet formation.