How solar systems are born Striking images capture planetary bodies being sculpted rock and ice

Using the Sphere instrument, at the VLT in Chile’s Atacama Desert, astronomers have been able to analyse the discs, showing how the emerging planets cause them to change shape. Pictured are three young stars and their protoplanetary discs, RX J1615 with it's Saturn-like rings (left), HD 97048 with similar rings (top right) and HD 135344B, surrounded by a multi-armed protoplanetary disc with a large central void (bottom right).