Astronomers have just found one of the youngest planets ever. At only 3 million years old, planet TIDYE-1b (also known as IRAS 04125+2902 b) is practically in its infancy. By comparison, Earth is 4.5 billion years old: that’s 1500 times older. The discovery of a planet this young can teach scientists a lot about the … Continue reading "Astronomers Find a 3 Million Year Old Planet"

Earth is 4.5 billion years old, completely ancient compared to a newly discovered exoplanet that’s only 3 million years old. Designated TIDYE-1b, the planet orbits its star once a week. One big surprise is that the protoplanetary disk is tilted relative to both the planet and its star. Planets this young should be impossible to see through the protoplanetary dust, but this misalignment makes it visible, separate from the disk.