Proplyds: Infant Solar Systems
Explanation:
The fuzzy blobs seen above may be some of the first ever images
of entire solar systems forming right before our eyes.
This close up of the
Orion Nebulae taken by the
Hubble Space Telescope shows only a few
stars, but these stars are surrounded by proto-planetary disks known as
"
proplyds."
As the stars have only just recently formed - in the past few
million years - the disks around them are likely condensing to form
planetary systems and may be similar to the disk that formed our own solar
system 5 billion years ago. These HST results suggest that stars with
planets may be relatively common place.
Are there extra-terrestrial
civilizations out there as well?
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
