Space telescopes spy forming solar systems
Posted: Mon, Dec 13, 2004, 8:36 AM ET (1336 GMT)
Images from two NASA space telescopes have allowed astronomers to observe some of the "missing links" in the formation of solar systems. Images from Hubble, released last week, show a bright dust disk surrounding HD 107146, a Sun-like star 50-250 million years old. At that age gas giants should have formed from the protoplanetary disk, but smaller terrestrial planets may still be in the process of formation. Meanwhile, the Spitzer Space Telescope has spotted remnant dust disks surrounding older stars around which extrasolar planets have previously been discovered. The discoveries, scientists said, allow them to better understand the process by which planets form from dust disks like these.
Images from two NASA space telescopes have allowed astronomers to observe some of the "missing links" in the formation of solar systems. Images from Hubble, released last week, show a bright dust disk surrounding HD 107146, a Sun-like star 50-250 million years old. At that age gas giants should have formed from the protoplanetary disk, but smaller terrestrial planets may still be in the process of formation. Meanwhile, the Spitzer Space Telescope has spotted remnant dust disks surrounding older stars around which extrasolar planets have previously been discovered. The discoveries, scientists said, allow them to better understand the process by which planets form from dust disks like these.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, March 10
Firefly Delays Alpha Launch Attempt at Vandenberg Due to Sensor Reading
Noozhawk — 7:32 am ET (1132 GMT) Monday’s launch of Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha Flight 7 test flight Monday evening scrubbed
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 7:32 am ET (1132 GMT) DoW announces death of USASMDC Soldier
US Army — 7:31 am ET (1131 GMT) Seventh US service member killed is identified as Army Space Brigade sergeant
AP — 7:30 am ET (1130 GMT) A Dark Matter
Business Standard — 7:25 am ET (1125 GMT) |
