Birth of a giant planet

Astronomers have spotted what could be a giant planet in the formative stage, still embedded in a thick disc of gas and dust, with the help of European Southern Observatory very large telescope (VLT).

The team has studied the disc of gas and dust that surrounds the young star HD 100546, a relatively nearby neighbour located 335 light-years from Earth.

The prospective planet could be a gas giant similar to Jupiter.

Adam Amara, research team member, said: “Exoplanet research is one of the most exciting new frontiers in astronomy.”