The first clear picture of planet formation

Thanks to the Alma radio telescope, scientists have for the first time captured the clearest picture of the formation of planets around a young star.

>>>Finding "shocking" about planet formation
>>> The formation of planets in gas disks

This star is like the Sun and is called HL Tau , located in the constellation of Taurus, 450 light-years from Earth.

Images of planet formation around HL Tau made astronomers shocked

The new HL Tau is 1 million years old, and taking a clear picture of the formation of the planets around it has surprised astronomers.

According to Space.com, HL Tau is hidden in a cloud of dust and gas, so cannot be seen with the naked eye. Even when observing with a magnified telescope is difficult to see.

However, Alma telescope has 'captured' images of HL Tau using much longer wavelengths. Not only that, this is also the clearest, most detailed picture ever.

"It's extraordinary," said Dr Aprajita Verma, an astrophysicist at Oxford University, BBC.

The disk of the planet formed around HL Tau

"This is really one of the most remarkable images ever seen at the wavelength level," said astronomer Crystal Brogan of the NRAO observatory. "Its level of detail is even more impressive than optical images."

Alma radio telescope is the most advanced telescope in the world. Its high resolution is equivalent to people seeing a coin from more than 68 miles (110km).