Zooming in on The "Flying Saucer" Protoplanetary Disc | ESO

Zooming in on The "Flying Saucer" Protoplanetary Disc | ESO

This video takes us on a journey to the young star 2MASS J16281370-2431391 in the spectacular Rho Ophiuchi star formation region, about 400 light-years from Earth. This star is surrounded by a disc of gas and dust—a protoplanetary disc, the early stage in the creation of a planetary system. This particular disc is seen nearly edge-on, and its appearance in visible light pictures has led to its being nicknamed the Flying Saucer.

The final close-up infrared view of the Flying Saucer comes from the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope.

Credit: Digitized Sky Survey 2/NASA/ESA

Duration: 50 seconds

Release Date: February 3, 2016

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