Formation of super-Earths is limited near metal-poor stars

Formation of super-Earths is limited near metal-poor stars

In a new study, astronomers report novel evidence regarding the limits of planet formation, finding that after a certain point, planets larger than Earth have difficulty forming near low-metallicity stars. Using the sun as a baseline, astronomers can measure when a star formed by determining its metallicity, or the level of heavy elements present within … Read more