Trapezium: Teardrops in My Skies
Explanation:
Sometimes the unexpected comes in a familiar
shape. In
this picture, the seemingly familiar
teardrop-shaped object just right of center is actually
an unusually situated disk of gas and dust.
In fact, the teardrop is about the size of
our own Solar System
and is racing against time to condense and form planets.
This disk, however, is unfortunate enough to lie in the
Trapezium, which is also home to
several immense, bright stars.
These bright stars emit light so powerful it boils away the
gas and
dust in
planet-forming disks.
Large
Jupiter-like planets
will probably never form in this hostile environment,
but it is currently unknown whether
Earth-like
planets could form and survive.
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.
