News Astronomy

Most stars may have much more time to form planets than previously thought

Planet-making disks may survive around many young stars for 5 million to 10 million years

Orange planet-building disk of gas and dust in space

Planet-building disks of gas and dust (one pictured) survive for millions of years longer around orange and red dwarf stars than astronomers realized, a new study suggests.

ALMA/ESO, NAOJ and NRAO

By Ken Croswell

Good news for late bloomers: Planets may have millions of years more time to arise around most stars than previously thought.