Youngest exoplanet discovery sheds light on early planet formation

We are discussing a planet from outside the Solar System, which, when passing in front of its star, slightly dims its light. This provides clues for research teams worldwide to search for them. Astronomers have recently managed to find the youngest, aged below three million years.

Scientists discovered a planet orbiting a star formed about three million years ago. As it passes in front of the star from Earth's perspective, it allows us to observe how the light filters through its atmosphere. This is a unique discovery because the planet orbits a star nearly three times younger than other known stars with transiting planets. It is assumed that they form after stars, so this planet is likely even younger.

As reported by the scientific journal "Nature", where the latest research was published, a team of scientists identified a dozen planets transiting stars aged between 10 and 40 million years. Researchers believe there are many factors that might explain the lack of detection of very young planets, including the presence of discs around young stars, composed mainly of gas and dust. Parts of these discs hinder the observation of transiting planets. However, some of these discs are disrupted, allowing the discovery of new planets, as in the case of IRAS 04125+2902 b.

The planet has a radius 4% smaller than Jupiter, making it 11 times wider than Earth. Despite its size, its density is significantly lower, reaching only up to 30% of Jupiter’s mass. Over time, it will likely decrease, reaching a mass similar to Saturn or even Neptune.

The new planet, transiting in just 9 days, already receives a lot of heat, which will increase as the star evolves. The planet may also be hot due to gravitational collapse, consistent with previous observations of young planets. The IRAS 04125+2902 b planet system is about 500 light-years from us, offering more research opportunities being closer than most discovered planets.

The search for Earth-like atmospheres beyond the Solar System is a popular theme in exoplanet research. Still, observing young planets, even those unlike Earth, can provide valuable information about the planet formation process. In this context, discovering the planet IRAS 04125+2902 b represents significant progress. We know more about the star around which the new exoplanet orbits; it has 70% of the Sun's mass, is just 3.3 million years old, and originates from the Taurus Molecular Cloud.