Astronomers discover elusive planet responsible for spiral arms around its star

The Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona. The LBTI instrument combines infrared light from both 8.4-meter mirrors to image planets and disks around young and nearby stars.

Scientists have long thought that spiral arms in protoplanetary disks could be caused by nascent planets, yet none had been detected until now.

"Our study puts forward a solid piece of evidence that these spiral arms are caused by giant planets," said Kevin Wagner, lead author of the paper and a postdoctoral researcher at the UArizona Steward Observatory. Learn more