Planet-forming Discs around Young Stars in Our Milky Way Galaxy | ESO

Planet-forming Discs around Young Stars in Our Milky Way Galaxy | ESO

MWC 758 planet-forming disc

Distance: about 500 light-years away in the Taurus region

Credit: ESO/A. Garufi et al.; R. Dong et al.; ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)

Planet-forming discs in three clouds of the Milky Way

Credit: ESO/C. Ginski, A. Garufi, P.-G. Valegård et al.

Planet-forming discs in the Orion cloud

Distance: roughly 1600 light-years

Credit: ESO/P.-G. Valegård et al.; IRAS

Planet-forming discs in the Taurus cloud

Distance: around 600 light-years 

Credit: ESO/A.Garufi et al.; IRAS

Planet-forming discs in the Chamaeleon cloud

Distance: close to 600 light-years from Earth

Credit: ESO/C. Ginski et al.; ESA/Herschel

In a series of studies, a team of astronomers has shed new light on the fascinating and complex process of planet formation. The stunning images, captured using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) in Chile, represent one of the largest ever surveys of planet-forming discs. The research brings together observations of more than 80 young stars that might have planets forming around them, providing astronomers with a wealth of data and unique insights into how planets arise in different regions of our galaxy. 

Research papers:

The SPHERE view of the Chamaeleon I star-forming region

https://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso2405/eso2405a.pdf

The SPHERE view of the Taurus star-forming region

https://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso2405/eso2405b.pdf

Disk Evolution Study Through Imaging of Nearby Young Stars

(DESTINYS): The SPHERE view of the Orion star-forming region

https://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso2405/eso2405c.pdf

Article Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Release Date: March 5, 2024  

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Exoplanets #Planets #PlanetaryDiscs #PlanetaryFormation #VLT #SPHERE #ALMA #SolarSystem #AtacamaDesert #Chile #SouthAmerica #Europe #Infographics #STEM #Education