Disc around the star HD 135344B

Using ESO’s SPHERE instrument at the Very Large Telescope, a team of astronomers observed the planetary disc surrounding the star HD 135344B, about 450 light-years away. The disc shows prominent spiral-arm-like structures. These are thought to have been created by one or multiple massive protoplanets, destined to become Jupiter-like worlds.

The central part of the image appears dark because SPHERE blocks out the light from the brilliant central star to reveal the much fainter structures surrounding it.