Tracing the chemical ingredients of future planets in the AB Aurigae disk

Star system: AB Aurigae | Distance from the Sun: 509 light years

By studying the swirling disk of gas and dust around the star AB Aur, astronomers are gaining a clearer picture of the raw materials available for building new worlds. Using the NOEMA radio interferometer, researchers measured the ratio of carbon to oxygen—a key indicator of a planet's future atmosphere—by observing specific molecules like carbon monosulfide and sulfur monoxide. 

The data suggests that this 'planetary nursery' is carbon-rich but surprisingly low in sulfur compared to our own Sun. These findings are crucial because the chemical makeup of this disk directly determines the composition of any planets forming within it, helping scientists bridge the gap between a star's birth environment and the atmospheres of the planets that eventually emerge.

Scientific study

AB Aur, a Rosetta stone for studies of planet formation (IV): C/O estimates from CS and SO interferometric observations (external link)