Posted: Fri, May 30, 2003, 6:51 AM ET (1051 GMT)
Planets may form around new stars within just three million years, a fraction of the time previously thought, according to research announced this week. At a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Nashville, University of Florida astronomers said that planets may form from protoplanetary disks in as little as three million years, compared to the 10-12 million years astronomers had previously estimated. That time estimate was based on the limited mass of such disks: beyond three million years the disks have lost too much mass to be able to form planets. The astronomers also reported finding planet-forming disks around seven stars, doubling the total of such disks. The Florida astronomers focused their searches on giant molecular clouds where clusters of stars are created.

Related Links:

•  University of Florida press release
•  Reuters article
•  New York Times article