Astronomers have found a giant exoplanet orbiting its star at 650 times the average Earth-Sun distance. But this planet called HD 106906 has scientists scratching their heads. Commonly held theories of planet formation suggests that planets close to their stars form from small asteroid-like bodies born in the primordial disk of dust and gas that surrounds a forming star. And this process happens too slowly to grow giant planets far from their star. Scientists are looking to other theories to explain this enigma, but so far no luck. They say this find is exciting because it brings up intriguing questions about the planet’s formation history and composition. Interesting.
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