Free Astronomy Magazine September-October 2024

14 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2024 ASTRO PUBLISHING potential composition of any planets that might form around this star. Rocky planets are more likely than gas giants to form around low-mass stars, making them the most com- mon planets around the most com- mon stars in our galaxy. Little is known about the chemistry of such worlds, which may be similar to or very different from Earth. By study- ing the disks from which such plan- ets form, astronomers hope to better understand the planet forma- tion process and the compositions of the resulting planets. Planet-forming disks around very low-mass stars are difficult to study because they are smaller and fainter Plethora of carbon molecules around young star A n international team of as- tronomers has used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to study the disk of gas and dust around a young, very low-mass star. The results reveal the largest num- ber of carbon-containing molecules seen to date in such a disk. These findings have implications for the by NASA/ESA/CSA Bethany Downer Christine Pulliam