News Astronomy

Hubble finds hints of a planet oddly far-flung from its star

If confirmed, the dark gap in space debris will challenge astronomers' theories

A dark ring in the middle of a dusty disk surrounding the star TW Hydrae may have been created by a growing planet.

NASA, ESA, J. DEBES/STSCI, H. JANG-CONDELL/UNIV. OF WYOMING, A. WEINBERGER/CARNEGIE INST. OF WASHINGTON, A. ROBERGE/GSFC, G. SCHNEIDER/UNIV. OF ARIZONA, A. FIELD/STSCI

By Andrew Grant

- More than 2 years ago

A mysterious gap in a star’s dusty shell of debris could be the signature of a young planet circling its sun at twice the distance of Pluto’s orbit.