Mind the Gap (IMAGE) ESO Caption Astronomers have been able to study planet-forming discs around young Sun-like stars in unsurpassed detail, using ESO's Very Large Telescope. The studied discs were known to have gaps in the dusty discs (represented by the brownish color in the image) but the astronomers found that gas is still present inside these gaps (represented by the white color in the image). This can either mean that the dust has clumped together to form planetary embryos, or that a planet has already formed and is in the process of clearing the gas in the disc. Credit ESO Usage Restrictions All ESO still and motion pictures are Copyright ©ESO. ESO press photos are clearly marked as ESO pictures. Publicly released ESO still and motion pictures may be used for non-commercial information or education purposes as well as by print and electronic news media. These images and videos may normally be reproduced without fee, on the following conditions: * ESO must be clearly credited as the source of the image material; * ESO images may not be used to state or imply the endorsement by ESO or any ESO employee of a commercial product, process or service; * ESO disclaims any and all liability arising from the use of the image material. The user shall undertake to hold ESO harmless against any and all such claims; * If an image includes an identifiable person, using that image for commercial purposes may infringe that person's right of privacy, and separate permission should be obtained from the individual; * If ESO material is to be used in advertising or any commercial promotion, layout and copy must be submitted to ESO beforehand for approval (contact the ESO Public Affairs Department). In such cases, ESO reserves the right to grant the permission only upon payment of a reproduction charge or to deny entirely the granting of the permission; * Some images and videos may originate from other sources, and this is indicated in the Copyright notice. For re-use of non-ESO material contact the designated authority; * This general permission does not extend to use of the ESO's Emblem, which shall remain protected and may not be used or reproduced without prior and individual written consent of ESO. Owners of external websites wishing to link to the ESO web site may use ESO's Emblem for the link, provided they have obtained prior authorisation from the ESO Public Affairs Department and on the condition that such use is clearly identifiable as a web link; * By reproducing ESO still images or broadcasting or copying ESO motion pictures, in part or in full, the user acknowledges the terms on which such use is permitted. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.