Astronomers spot two giant gas planets forming around a baby star

Researchers report two gas giant planets are forming in the large, structured disc around the young star WISPIT 2: WISPIT 2b was identified last year as nearly five times the size of Jupiter, and a newly confirmed inner planet, WISPIT 2c, is reported as about twice as massive as its sibling.

Astronomers observed two giant gas planets forming inside the protoplanetary disc around a young star named WISPIT 2. The disc shows prominent rings and gaps that researchers say are carved by emerging planets. WISPIT 2b was identified last year and is described as nearly five times the size of Jupiter. The newly confirmed WISPIT 2c lies closer to the star and is said to be about twice as massive as WISPIT 2b. Key observations: - The system around WISPIT 2 contains a large, structured disc with rings and gaps linked to planet formation. - WISPIT 2b was identified previously and is reported as nearly five times the size of Jupiter. - WISPIT 2c has now been confirmed closer to the star and is reported as about twice the mass of its sibling planet. - The discovery involved teams from the University of Galway and Leiden Observatory and was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. - Observations used European Southern Observatory facilities, including the Very Large Telescope and its interferometer; a narrower, shallower outer gap is reported as possibly indicating a third planet of roughly Saturn mass. Summary: The finding provides a detailed, near–real-time view of multiple gas giants forming within a single protoplanetary disc and offers a comparison to the only other known two-planet forming system, PDS 70. Researchers report that further observations and next-generation instruments, such as ESO's upcoming Extremely Large Telescope, may clarify whether a third planet is present and reveal more about the system's structure. Undetermined at this time.