A Disk Around a Massive Baby Star
Sig10 012

Credit: ESO/L. Calada

Artwork • July 14th, 2010 • sig10-012

sig10-012

Astronomers have obtained the first clear look at a dusty disk closely encircling a massive baby star, providing direct evidence that massive stars do form in the same way as their smaller brethren - and closing an enduring debate. This artist's concept shows what such a massive disk might look like.

The flared disk extends to about 130 times the Earth-sun distance, and has a mass similar to that of the star, roughly twenty times the sun. The inner parts of the disk are shown to be devoid of dust.

About the Object

Name
Type
Star > Circumstellar Material > Disk > Protoplanetary
Star > Spectral Type > O
Star > Circumstellar Material > Outflow