Planet Formation

Astronomers have found a planetary system around a red dwarf star where a rocky world orbits beyond two gas giants, challenging standard models of how planets form. The discovery around LHS 1903 suggests planets may arise sequentially rather than all at once.

February 14, 2026 Reported by AI

Astronomers have identified a four-planet system around the red dwarf star LHS 1903 where the outermost planet is rocky, defying typical formation patterns. This discovery, led by researchers from McMaster University and the University of Warwick, challenges established theories on how planets develop. Observations from space and ground-based telescopes revealed the unexpected composition of the distant world.