A disc around a massive baby star (artist's impression)

Artist's impression of a dusty disc closely encircling a massive baby star. Astronomers have been able to obtain the first image of such a disc, providing direct evidence that massive stars do form in the same way as their smaller brethren — and closing an enduring debate.The flared disc extends to about 130 times the Earth–Sun distance — or astronomical units (AU) — and has a mass similar to that of the star, roughly twenty times the Sun. In addition, the inner parts of the disc are shown to be devoid of dust.

Credit:

ESO/L. Calçada/M. Kornmesser

About the Image

Id:eso1029a
Type:Artwork
Release date:14 July 2010, 19:00
Related releases:eso1029
Size:4000 x 2666 px

About the Object

Name:Protoplanetary disc
Type:Milky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Disk : Protoplanetary
Category:Illustrations
Stars

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