Dust traps may explain planet formation
Posted: Fri, Jun 7, 2013, 8:18 AM ET (1218 GMT)
Observations of a protoplanetary disk around a star have given astronomers evidence to support models for the formation of planets. In a paper in this week's issue of the journal Science, astronomers reported the discovery of a lopsided bulge in the outer disk surrounding the star IRS 48, about 390 light-years away, in observations by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). That bulge, astronomers believe, is a "dust trap" formed by vortices in the star's dust disk created by a gas giant planet. Astronomers have previously hypothesized that such dust traps were needed to allow the formation of planets without collisions or inward migration towards the star that would stifle their growth.
Observations of a protoplanetary disk around a star have given astronomers evidence to support models for the formation of planets. In a paper in this week's issue of the journal Science, astronomers reported the discovery of a lopsided bulge in the outer disk surrounding the star IRS 48, about 390 light-years away, in observations by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). That bulge, astronomers believe, is a "dust trap" formed by vortices in the star's dust disk created by a gas giant planet. Astronomers have previously hypothesized that such dust traps were needed to allow the formation of planets without collisions or inward migration towards the star that would stifle their growth.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, January 4
INNOSPACE Terminates HANBIT-Nano Mission Early Following Successful Liftoff
INNOspace — 1:06 pm ET (1806 GMT) Sidus Space Announces Closing of Public Offering
Sidus Space — 1:04 pm ET (1804 GMT) GomSpace Secures 50MSEK Contract with Leading European Defense firm
GomSpace — 1:04 pm ET (1804 GMT) Voyager and UConn to Accelerate Innovation to Space
Voyager Space — 1:03 pm ET (1803 GMT) Terran Orbital Selected by Lockheed Martin to Provide Satellite Buses for SDA’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer
Terran Orbital — 1:02 pm ET (1802 GMT) |
