Photo: Birth of an Earthlike Planet Spied By Spitzer

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


A sunlike star in a binary system is encircled by a warm disk of dust in this artist's conception. The system, which lies 424 light-years away, is most likely giving birth to a rocky, Earthlike planet, according to a new study of the dust's composition.

A second ring of icy dust farther out from the star could eventually be a source of water for the newborn planet.

Image courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech/JHUAPL

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Photos and News of the Week

Get the top photos and news of the week from National Geographic News, plus occasional breaking-news alerts.

See Sample >>
Please enter a valid email address
Privacy Policy

MOST VIEWED NEWS

Earth's Core, Magnetic Field Changing Fast, Study Says

Even Modest Increases in MPG Can Equal Big Gas Savings

Amazon Tribe Attacked by Masked Gunners
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

Photo and Headline Widget

Put our latest news and photos on your Web page or desktop—automatically updates! See Sample
Download Widget