Spitzer reveals "messy" planetary formation process
Posted: Wed, Oct 20, 2004, 10:58 PM ET (0258 GMT)
Observations by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have shown astronomers that the process by which planets form around stars is relatively messy, with dust clouds created by the collisions of planetesimals. The infrared space telescope detected very large dust clouds around several stars. Astronomers believe those dust clouds were created when planets forming around those stars collided with one another. The observations confirm existing models of planetary formation, where small particles gradually aggregate into larger bodies that collide with one another; the larger collisions create dust cloud flare-ups seen in the Spitzer images. This process can take over 100 million years, far longer than once thought.
Observations by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have shown astronomers that the process by which planets form around stars is relatively messy, with dust clouds created by the collisions of planetesimals. The infrared space telescope detected very large dust clouds around several stars. Astronomers believe those dust clouds were created when planets forming around those stars collided with one another. The observations confirm existing models of planetary formation, where small particles gradually aggregate into larger bodies that collide with one another; the larger collisions create dust cloud flare-ups seen in the Spitzer images. This process can take over 100 million years, far longer than once thought.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, April 26
Firefly Alpha mission slated to launch from Vandenberg SFB on Sunday morning
Lompoc Record — 9:36 am ET (1336 GMT) Vandenberg’s Next Mission: Firefly Alpha Rocket Launch on Sunday
Noozhawk — 9:35 am ET (1335 GMT) Space Systems Command Expands Commercial Space Vehicle Processing Capacity
US Space Force — 9:35 am ET (1335 GMT) Gayle King Is “Not Focusing” on Blue Origin Backlash and Would “Consider” Going Back to Space: “I’m Definitely Open to It”
Hollywood Reporter — 9:32 am ET (1332 GMT) Blue Origin Flight ‘Really Was a Dream Come True’ for Katy Perry Despite Fan Backlash Over Stunt
In Touch — 9:32 am ET (1332 GMT) |
