Yes, and there is evidence it has partially cleared the protoplanetary disk in the process. The discovery of TW Hya b is a major one.
It is also good to know that the mass 9.8 MJ is the actual mass of the planet, based on the reasonable assumption that the planet orbits at the same plane as the protoplanetary disk. The inclination of the disk is 7°, which means we see it almost face-on.
__________________
Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.
-- Richard Feynman
|