The disk, known as a circumplanetary disk, was discovered around an exoplanet known as PDS 70c. An international group of astronomers found the disk while observing the planetary system with ALMA, or the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimeter Array of telescopes in Chile. Researchers thought a moon-forming disk may exist around this exoplanet based on previous findings, but it was difficult to distinguish it from the surrounding space environment. This image shows a close-up view on the moon-forming disk surrounding PDS 70c. The gas and dust in this circumplanetary disk can also grow independently as materials within the disk collide, resulting in the creation of moons.

Source: CNN July 22, 2021 12:03 UTC