Cosmic Construction Zone RCW 49
Explanation:
Stars
and planets appear to be under
construction in dusty nebula RCW 49.
This Spitzer Space Telescope false-color
infrared view of
the nearby stellar nursery shows that known, hot stars are
well on their way to clearing out the nebula's central
regions.
But it also uncovers more than 300 newborn stars,
seen here
strewn throughout the cosmic dust clouds
and filaments.
The infrared data indicate the likely presence of
protoplanetary discs
around some of the infant suns, among the faintest
and farthest potential
planet-forming discs ever observed.
Such exciting results give further support to the idea that
planet-forming discs are a natural part of a star's evolution.
A mere 14,000 light-years away toward the constellation
Centaurus, the industrious RCW 49 is about
350 light-years across.
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.
