Find the oldest planet in the universe

Scientists have discovered the two oldest planets in the universe. They revolve around a star 375 light-years from Earth .

In a recent survey, Dr. Johnny Setiawan and colleagues from the Max-Planck Astronomical Research Institute (Germany) discovered two planets orbiting the HIP 11952 star formed 12.8 billion years ago. five - nearly 1 billion years after the Big Bang occurred.

Simulation image of HIP star 11952 and 2 planets orbiting it

This means two newly discovered planets are the oldest planets in the universe. They may be younger than HIP 11952, but scientists claim that the time of formation is not much apart.

'Normally, planets form soon after the master star forms. Second-generation planets can also be formed after a star dies, but this hypothesis is still controversial in the scientific world, " said Dr. Johny Setiawan, head of research. Geographic.

According to the team's calculations, one of the two planets is about the same size as Jupiter and completes a spin around the host star within 7 days. The other planet is about three times the size of Jupiter and has an orbital cycle of nine and a half months.

The discovery of German scientists shows that the formation of planets may occur during the early period of the universe, even though stars of this period lacked elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. For example, Dr. Setiawan suggested that iron on the HIP star 11952 is only 1% of the amount of iron on our Sun.

Scientists say the two planets orbiting HIP 11952 will soon disappear, because the host star will turn red - one of the last stages of a star like the Sun. During this period, the star will swell and swallow the planets near it.