Forged in Fire

©Nature Issue 17 July  2025. Do not use without permission.

Astronomers report the detection of the initial moments of planet formation, capturing the building blocks of a new planetary system beginning its assembly, in HOPS-315.
M. K. McClure et al
M. K. McClure et al
Structure of HOPS-315’s inner disk. Molecules located above the temperature minimum (dotted line) are seen in emission. Molecules located between the temperature minimum and the disk photosphere (long-dashed line) are seen in absorption. Dust sublimates in the thermostat region near 1 au. M. K. McClure et al.
Structure of HOPS-315’s inner disk. Molecules located above the temperature minimum (dotted line) are seen in emission. Molecules located between the temperature minimum and the disk photosphere (long-dashed line) are seen in absorption. Dust sublimates in the thermostat region near 1 au. M. K. McClure et al.
Volumetric elements (jets, wind outflow) developed in Embergen
Compositing of elements, volumetric materials and rendering with Cinema4D and Redshift

Zooming into HOPS-315, located in the Orion Constellation 1390 light-years away. Credits: ESO/L. Calçada/N. Risinger (skysurvey.org)/Digitized Sky Survey 2/VISTA/ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/M. McClure et al. Music: Azul Cobalto

We have observed the formation of giant planets in discs around young stars before. But now, for the first time, we have found a planetary system that turns the clock back even further, right to when the first specks of planet-forming material were created. In this Chasing Starlight episode, we’ll explore how we could be witnessing the dawn of a new Solar System around the young star HOPS-315.

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