Baby exoplanet: Astronomers find the youngest world yet
Astronomers have discovered the youngest-known exoplanet so far, Elias 2-24 b. The baby exoplanet is twice the mass of Jupiter and 450 light-years away. The post Baby exoplanet: Astronomers find the youngest world yet first appeared on EarthSky .
Scientists have discovered the youngest-known exoplanet, called Elias 2-24 b, which is less than a million years old and about twice the mass of Jupiter. The planet resides in the disk of gas and dust surrounding its star, and is currently pulling material from this disk. This discovery challenges existing planet-formation models, as the previous record holders were over 5 million years old.
The researchers used the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii to find Elias 2-24 b, which they confirmed using multiple telescopes. This discovery marks the beginning of a new era of exoplanet detection and observation.
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