Protoplanetary disk abruptly disappears
Posted: Thu, Jul 5, 2012, 12:30 PM ET (1630 GMT)
A dust disk spotted around a young star just a few years ago has disappeared in the course of just a few years, puzzling astronomers. In a paper published in the current edition of the journal Nature, astronomers reported that they are no longer able to detect a warm disk of dust surrounding the star TYC 8241 2652. That disk was discovered in data from NASA's IRAS satellite in 1983, and seen in follow-up observations for 25 years. However, astronomers were unable to see it in infrared observations at the Gemini South observatory in Chile two months ago, leading astronomers to conclude that the warm, infrared-emitting dust disappeared within the last 2.5 years. Astronomers, who initially thought the non-detection of the disk was an error, don't have a firm explanation for the loss of the dust. The observations could reshape existing models for the formation of solar systems from such protoplanetary disks around new stars.
A dust disk spotted around a young star just a few years ago has disappeared in the course of just a few years, puzzling astronomers. In a paper published in the current edition of the journal Nature, astronomers reported that they are no longer able to detect a warm disk of dust surrounding the star TYC 8241 2652. That disk was discovered in data from NASA's IRAS satellite in 1983, and seen in follow-up observations for 25 years. However, astronomers were unable to see it in infrared observations at the Gemini South observatory in Chile two months ago, leading astronomers to conclude that the warm, infrared-emitting dust disappeared within the last 2.5 years. Astronomers, who initially thought the non-detection of the disk was an error, don't have a firm explanation for the loss of the dust. The observations could reshape existing models for the formation of solar systems from such protoplanetary disks around new stars.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, May 21
First look at Amazon CEO's historic rocket engines being conserved in Kansas
collectSPACE — 9:30 am ET (1330 GMT) Major Tim Peake's pride at becoming the UK's first true astronaut
The Mirror — 7:03 am ET (1103 GMT) Space industry’s hopes ride on ‘Major Tim’
Financial Times — 7:02 am ET (1102 GMT) Major Tim puts an end to Britain's space oddity
The Daily Telegraph — 7:00 am ET (1100 GMT) One giant leap for Britain: UK's first official astronaut Major Tim Peake on tweeting like Chris Hadfield and missing his wife and sons
The Independent — 7:00 am ET (1100 GMT) |
