ESO believes it has cracked how planets the size of Jupiter are formed – -.

We may finally have an answer to the question of how heavy planets the size of Jupiter form. As noted by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in a press release, a new image has been shared that seemingly sheds light on this age-old question.

The image shows a clump of dust gathering around a young star. The idea is that this could lead to a planet the size of Jupiter, as it is expected that the dust grains in the clump will eventually come together due to gravitational instability or when large fragments of material contract and collapse around the star. The result will be a large planetary body.

The image shows the star V960 Mon, located about 5,000 light years from Earth in the constellation Monoceros. Check out the striking new image below.