A team of astronomers led by Penn State has discovered that planet-forming materials can survive and persist even in some of the most extreme environments in our galaxy
Using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the team studied a distant protoplanetary disk, a swirling cloud of gas and dust surrounding a young star, located in a high-radiation region known as the Lobster Nebula.
Their findings, recently published in The Astrophysical Journal, suggest that the raw ingredients needed to form planets remain intact even in areas exposed to intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
A harsh, stellar nursery
The focus of the study was XUE 1, a young, sun-like star located about 5,500 light-years from Earth in the Lobster Nebula (NGC 6357).
This region is home to more than 20 massive stars, some of which emit extreme levels of UV radiation, much higher than what’s typically found in nearby star-forming regions. These conditions were long believed to be too hostile for the delicate process of planet formation.
The Penn State-led team’s observations reveal that XUE 1’s protoplanetary disk contains enough solid material to form at least 10 Mercury-sized planets potentially. The disk also contains key molecules like water vapour, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, and acetylene, all of which may contribute to the future atmospheres of forming planets.
A compact but viable disk
One of the more surprising discoveries was the compact size of the disk around XUE 1. It spans just 10 astronomical units (AU), about the distance from the Sun to Saturn. Researchers believe the disk’s small size results from intense UV radiation stripping away its outer layers. Despite this erosion, the remaining inner disk holds enough material to support planet formation.
This suggests that protoplanetary disks can endure and create new planetary systems even when exposed to strong external forces. Such findings challenge the long-standing assumption that only calm, low-radiation environments are conducive to planet formation.
The study combines high-resolution JWST data with advanced astrochemical modelling, offering a complete picture of how planets might form in various environments, not just the relatively gentle stellar nurseries typically observed.
By identifying the composition and structure of XUE 1’s disk, the team has opened the door to studying many other systems exposed to extreme radiation.
This work also explains why astronomers are finding planetary systems around various stars. If planet formation is possible even in harsh UV environments like the Lobster Nebula, it becomes easier to understand the abundance of exoplanets detected across the galaxy.
Global collaboration and support
The research brought together scientists from European and U.S. institutions, including Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Stockholm University, Queen Mary University of London, and the University of Hertfordshire.
Funding came from NASA, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, the German Aerospace Center, the Swedish National Space Agency, and several other international research organisations.
This study shows the power of the James Webb Space Telescope and emphasises the resilience of planet-forming environments in the universe.
