A Star's Close Encounter

Spitzer_sig06-023_1024

spitzer_sig06-023 October 3rd, 2006

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Z. Balog (Univ. of Ariz./Univ. of Szeged)

The potential planet-forming disk (or "protoplanetary disk") of a sun-like star is being violently ripped away by the powerful winds of a nearby hot O-type star in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. At up to 100 times the mass of sun-like stars, O stars are the most massive and energetic stars in the universe.

The O star can be seen to the right of the image, as the large orange spot with the white center. To the left, the comet like structure is actually a neighboring solar system that is being destroyed by the O star's powerful winds and intense ultraviolet light.

In a process called "photoevaporation," immense output from the O star heats up the nearby protoplanetary disk so much that gas and dust boil off, and the disk can no longer hold together. Photon (or light) blasts from the O star then strip the potential planet forming disk off its neighbor star by blowing away evaporated material. This effect is illustrated in the smaller system's comet like structure.

The system is located about 2,450 light-years away in the star-forming cloud IC 1396.

The image was taken with Spitzer's Multiband Imaging Photometer instrument at 24 microns. The picture is a pseudo-color stretch representing intensity. Yellow and white represent hot areas, whereas purple and blue represent relatively cooler, fainter regions.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/2223-sig06-023-A-Star-s-Close-Encounter

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy

View Options

Download Options

Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
HD206267 2MASSJ21385699+5730455 IC1396
Subject - Milky Way
Star > Spectral Type > O
Star > Circumstellar Material > Disk > Protoplanetary

Distance

Universescale1
2,450 light years

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Pseudocolor Spitzer (MIPS) Infrared (Mid-IR) 24.0 µm
Spectrum_ir1
Pseudocolor
Spitzer_sig06-023_1280
×
ID
sig06-023
Subject Category
B.3.3.1.   B.3.7.2.1.  
Subject Name
HD206267, 2MASSJ21385699+5730455, IC1396
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Z. Balog (Univ. of Ariz./Univ. of Szeged)
Release Date
2006-10-03
Lightyears
2,450
Redshift
Reference Url
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/2223-sig06-023-A-Star-s-Close-Encounter
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Distance from Fast Facts.
Facility
Spitzer
Instrument
MIPS
Color Assignment
Pseudocolor
Band
Infrared
Bandpass
Mid-IR
Central Wavelength
24000
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
Equinox
Reference Value
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Spitzer Space Telescope
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
sig06-023.tif
Metadata Date
2012-10-11
Metadata Version
1.1
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×
Universescalefull
2,450 light years

Providers | Sign In