'199,000 light years away': James Webb Telescope finds ancient star disks still alive
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Ancient Puzzle
A 20-year mystery about how ancient stars hosted massive planets has been solved by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Prime Evidence
JWST observed modern analogs of early stars in the NGC 346 cluster, revealing that long-lasting planetary disks exist even around stars with few heavy elements.
Disk Survival
The study, led by Guido De Marchi, shows that low-metal stars can retain planetary disks for 20–30 million years, giving planets more time to form.
Cluster Insight
Located in the Small Magellanic Cloud, 199,000 light-years away, NGC 346 mirrors early universe conditions, making it a stellar laboratory.
Two Theories
The long-lived disks may persist due to less radiation from light-element stars or massive initial dust clouds that take longer to dissipate.
Early Universe
These findings suggest planets could form much earlier in the universe's history than previously believed, changing our understanding of cosmic timelines.
Heavy Absence
Stars in the early universe lacked the heavy elements seen today, but JWST’s findings challenge prior beliefs about their role in planetary formation.
Cosmic Implications
Elena Sabbi of NOIRLab noted the discovery redefines how planetary systems form in extreme conditions, offering exciting possibilities.
Published Findings
The breakthrough study was published in The Astrophysical Journal, highlighting JWST’s role in rewriting cosmic history.