Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have found evidence that young planets around distant stars are colliding with each other, creating vast disks of debris.

The observations, published in the Astrophysical Journal and supported by ALMA radio telescope data, show the dusty aftermath of giant impacts between planet-sized bodies.

Such collisions were common in our own solar system billions of years ago — the Moon is thought to have formed after a Mars-sized body slammed into the early Earth.

The new findings suggest that violent planet formation is not unique to our cosmic neighbourhood, and that many young planetary systems go through a chaotic phase.

Studying these debris disks helps scientists understand how planets grow, migrate and settle into stable orbits over millions of years.

The team plans follow-up observations to map the debris in finer detail. Researchers say each new disk is a snapshot of planetary systems under construction, offering clues about how common Earth-like planets might be.