Trending Now - Hubble Uncovers Unique Giant Planet Formation Zone 1,000 Light-years Away
WHO:
The Daily Galaxy - NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the NASA Hubble Mission Team are involved in the discovery.
The Daily Galaxy - Kristina Monsch is the lead author from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA).
The Daily Galaxy - Joshua Bennett Lovell is a co-investigator and astronomer at the CfA.
WHAT:
The Daily Galaxy - Scientists estimate the total mass of the disk could equal between 10 and 30 times the mass of Jupiter.
The Daily Galaxy - The environment surrounding the disk is described as an oversized version of the early solar system, evolving under far more extreme conditions.
The Daily Galaxy - Hubble captured the sharpest visible-light images of a planet-forming disk surrounding a young star.
The Daily Galaxy - The disk, known as IRAS 23077+6707 and nicknamed “Dracula’s Chivito,” spans roughly 400 billion miles.
The Daily Galaxy - The disk is estimated to be around 40 times wider than our solar system.
Science Daily - The disk contains enough material to potentially create multiple giant planets.
WHERE:
The Daily Galaxy - The planet-forming disk is located nearly 1,000 light-years away from Earth.
WHEN:
Science Daily - Future observations may determine whether one star or two stars sit at the center of the disk, which could influence how planets eventually form there.
The Daily Galaxy - Future observations may determine whether one star or two stars are at the center of the disk.
WHY:
The Daily Galaxy - The discovery adds to growing evidence that planet formation may be far more dynamic than earlier models suggested, with many systems experiencing violent phases marked by turbulence and structural disruptions.
The Daily Galaxy - The discovery challenges current ideas about how planetary systems evolve.
The Daily Galaxy - Researchers believe the strange structures in the disk may be linked to fresh material collapsing into the disk, interactions with nearby cosmic environments, or violent internal processes.
HOW:
The Daily Galaxy - Hubble’s visible-light observations revealed enormous plume-like structures extending outward from one side of the disk.
The Daily Galaxy - The disk displays enormous wisps and filament-like structures erupting unevenly from one side, indicating a chaotic environment.
(UPDATED May 13, 2026 04:17 UTC)
Scientists estimate that the total mass of a newly discovered disk could be between 10 and 30 times that of Jupiter, and its environment resembles an oversized version of the early solar system, evolving under extreme conditions. Future observations may reveal whether one or two stars are at the center of this disk, which could significantly influence how planets form in that region. This discovery adds to the growing evidence that planet formation is likely much more dynamic than previously thought, with many systems undergoing violent phases characterized by turbulence and structural disruptions.
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(UPDATED May 12, 2026 17:41 UTC)
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured the sharpest visible-light images of a planet-forming disk surrounding a young star, known as IRAS 23077+6707, which is nicknamed “Dracula’s Chivito” and spans roughly 400 billion miles, making it about 40 times wider than our solar system. The lead author of this discovery is Kristina Monsch from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, with co-investigator Joshua Bennett Lovell also contributing to the research, which suggests the disk contains enough material to potentially create multiple giant planets. This finding challenges current ideas about how planetary systems evolve, as researchers believe the strange structures within the disk may be linked to fresh material collapsing into it, interactions with nearby cosmic environments, or violent internal processes.