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For the first time, astronomers witness the dawn of a new solar system (www.eso.org)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/jingszo@lemmy.world
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International researchers have, for the first time, pinpointed the moment when planets began to form around a star beyond the Sun. Using the ALMA telescope, in which the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is a partner, and the James Webb Space Telescope, they have observed the creation of the first specks of planet-forming material — hot minerals just beginning to solidify. This finding marks the first time a planetary system has been identified at such an early stage in its formation and opens a window to the past of our own Solar System.

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[–] 1 point 1 year ago

Glad to be alive for a small part of this "moment"

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    [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    The word "moment" doing a lot of heavy lifting here.

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    [–] 5 points 1 year ago* (3 children)

    Am I the only one still bothered by people using "solar system" to refer to other stellar systems?

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 1 year ago (2 children)

    solar system

    noun. Any collection of heavenly bodies including a star or binary star, and any lighter stars, brown dwarfs, planets, and other objects in orbit.

    https://www.wordnik.com/words/solar%20system

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    Yes, I know how it's being used. I just disagree with that usage. Merriam-Webster gives a similar definition and then has the gall to put as definition two "especially the sun and all the planets, moons, and asteroids orbiting it".

    But that definition, minus the "especially", used to be the only definition, then the primary definition, and now second definition. It used to be specific to the system orbiting Sol, is my point. Other systems were just called "systems", or if that might've been ambiguous, "stellar systems".

    I get that the world has moved on without me, but don't expect me to shut up about it anytime soon.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

    I can not remember very many words containing a Z in their spelling...But seemingly those words spelled with an S are now the alternative!

    eg: cognisant ...Alternative spelling of cognizant.

    I suppose it is down to the manufacturers of this educative literature to provide the meaning, whether these educators be artificial, extraterrestrial , subterranean, intelligent or otherwise....Just ask Google 👽

    I hope you have a most excellent day... This is if 24 hours is still called a day? 😁😁

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