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Credit & Copyright: J. Alves
(ESO),
E. Tolstoy (Groningen),
R. Fosbury (ST-ECF), &
R. Hook (ST-ECF),
VLT
Explanation:
What is happening to
molecular cloud BHR 71?
Quite possible, a binary star
system is forming inside.
Most stars in
our Galaxy are part of
binary star systems,
but few have ever been seen in formation.
Recent observations of
dust-darkened
Bok Globule BHR 71, however,
show evidence for two young stars forming deep in the cloud,
likely close enough to form a binary.
Isolated BHR 71 spans about one
light year and lies only about 600 light years away
in the southern sky.
The brighter embedded star -- not visible here --
is about 10 times as bright as the
Sun
and drives the jet that
swept out the empty lane.
The above four-color image was taken with a
Very Large Telescope in
Chile.
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NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: binary star - star formation
Publications with words: binary star - star formation
See also: