Astronomy

Catching forming solar systems

Low-mass stars like our Sun are formed in the centers of dark clouds of dust and gas that obscure their visible light. Deep observations at infrared and submillimeter wavelengths are uniquely suited to probe the inner regions of these young stellar objects and unravel their structure as well as the physical processes involved.

Using a range of new, powerful observing facilities, we are now able to address some key questions regarding the formation of low-mass stars: How do disks form? What role does the environment play? How important are outflows on the evolution of young stars?

We use new and powerful techniques and observatories, including gravitational microlensing.

Astronomers at the Centre for Star and Planet Formation are also set to test the uniqueness of terrestrial planet formation, by providing a better assessment of

the distribution of Earth-like exoplanets in our galaxy using a technique know as gravitational microlensing.
This technique is most sensitive to detecting planetary objects with orbits and masses that are in the range of those observed in our solar system. Thus, a more strategic search for habitable exoplanets using gravitational microlensing may soon allow us to answer one of the key questions of the center’s research theme: Is the formation of rocky planets a likely outcome of planetary systems and low mass star formation?