Youngest Known Planet Discovered: Elias 2-24 b

Astronomers confirm Elias 2-24 b as the youngest known planet, under a million years old.

Astronomers have discovered the youngest known planet in the universe, Elias 2-24 b, which is under a million years old. This planet remains enveloped in its formation's original dust and gas cloud. Prior to this discovery, the youngest planets known, orbiting stars PDS 70 and WISPIT 2, were over 5 million years old. Research leader Andrea Bernardi, from Chile's Universidad Diego Portales, confirmed these findings. The team used a coronagraph at the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii to observe seven stars. Their research was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.