The protoplanetary disk may not be considered an accretion disk; while the two are similar, an accretion disk is hotter and spins much faster; it is also found on black holes, not stars.

3 days ago · This collection of images taken by Hubble showcases protoplanetary disks, the swirling masses of gas and dust that surround forming stars.

2 days ago · This collection of new images taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope showcases protoplanetary disks, the swirling masses of gas and dust that surround forming stars, in both visible …

Jan 8, 2026 · This is particularly relevant for addressing the question of the fraction of planets that may develop the conditions for long-term habitability. Planets form within “protoplanetary disks”, which are …

Nov 7, 2025 · A protoplanetary disk is a rotating disk of dense gas and dust that surrounds a newly formed star. These disks are crucial in the formation of planets, as they provide the raw materials …

Oct 20, 2004 · Material stops accreting onto the star, and the remaining dusty material is left surrounding the star in the shape of a disk. A Hubble Space Telescope image of a protoplanetary disk in the …

protoplanet, in astronomical theory, a hypothetical eddy in a whirling cloud of gas or dust that becomes a planet by condensation during formation of a solar system.

Mar 26, 2025 · The discovery of compact protoplanetary disks opens up exciting new avenues for further research. Scientists now have a clearer target when searching for the birthplaces of super-Earths …

Jan 1, 2023 · The concept of protoplanetary disks dates back to the eighteenth century, inspired by the motions of the planets in the solar system. Astronomers realized that the planets move in the same …

Jan 7, 2026 · Planets form when a cloud of gas and dust, called a nebula, contracts under the force of gravity into a young star and a swirling disk of matter called a protoplanetary disk.