Astro-image of the day: planet-forming disk

[mckitterick]

This image depicts a proto-planetary disk around a young star, the stuff that eventually forms planets. Unfortunately, this is a double-star system, and the big, bright star to the top-right is blasting away at the disk. No planets will likely form here. Big meanie.

Click the image to see the story.

Best,
Chris

Comments

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Hee. In which 'big meanie' becomes an astronomical term...

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Right, it designates the giant companion in a multiple star system, specifically one that dissipates the protoplanetary disks of the smaller stars. Also of note is that they almost always blow away their own disks, too. Violent suns of... er, nebulae!