Evidence shows violent collapse responsible for formation of Jupiter-like protoplanet
In general, the formation of planets in our universe can be likened to cooking a meal. Just like the "ingredients" for forming a planet can change, so can the "cooking method."
Researchers using the Hubble Space Telescope have caught a planet in the act of what could be likened to a "flash fry" — a violent and intense process called disk instability. In this method, instead of having a planet that grows and builds up from a small core accumulating matter and gas, the protoplanetary disk around a star cools, and gravity causes it to break up into one or more planet-mass fragments.
Astronomers have long searched for clear evidence of this process as a viable candidate in forming large, Jupiter-like planets, and Hubble's resolution and longevity proved to be a key missing puzzle piece.
Find additional articles, images, and videos at HubbleSite.org
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