Curious Spiral around Red Giant Star R Sculptoris (visualization) | ESO's ALMA

Curious Spiral around Red Giant Star R Sculptoris (visualization) | ESO's ALMA

Observations using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have revealed an unexpected spiral structure in the material around the old star R Sculptoris. This feature has never been seen before and is probably caused by a hidden companion star orbiting the star.

This slice through the new ALMA data reveals the shell around the star, which shows up as the outer circular ring, as well as a very clear spiral structure in the inner material.

Distance: 1,500 light years

Credit: ALMA (European Southern Observatory/National Astronomical Observatory of Japan/National Radio Astronomy Observatory/M. Maercker et al.

Release Date: October 10, 2012

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