The growing-up of a star: the disc around MWC 147

Artist's impression of the disc of matter surrounding the young stellar object MWC 147 as inferred from observations made with ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer. Thanks to these observations, astronomers have probed the inner parts of the disc of material surrounding the MWC 147, witnessing how it gains its mass before becoming an adult.

A slice has been cut to show the inner structure better. The disc extends out to 100 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun (100 Astronomical Units — 100 AU). It is inclined by about 50 degrees as seen from Earth. The dust in the outer disc emits mainly at mid-infrared wavelengths, while close to the star there is also strong near-infrared emission from very hot gas. This gas is transported towards the forming star, increasing its mass at a rate of 7 millionths of the mass of the Sun — or about 2 times the mass of the Earth — per year.

Credit:

ESO

Over de afbeelding

Id:eso0803a
Type:Ontwerp
Publicatiedatum:29 januari 2008
Gerelateerde berichten:eso0803
Grootte:1363 x 1089 px

Over het object

Naam:MWC 147
Type:Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Young Stellar Object
Afstand:2500 lichtjaren
Categorie:Illustrations
Stars

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