The growing-up of a star: the disc around MWC 147

Artist's impression of the disc of matter surrounding the young stellar object MWC 147 as inferred from observations made with ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer. Thanks to these observations, astronomers have probed the inner parts of the disc of material surrounding the MWC 147, witnessing how it gains its mass before becoming an adult.

A slice has been cut to show the inner structure better. The disc extends out to 100 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun (100 Astronomical Units — 100 AU). It is inclined by about 50 degrees as seen from Earth. The dust in the outer disc emits mainly at mid-infrared wavelengths, while close to the star there is also strong near-infrared emission from very hot gas. This gas is transported towards the forming star, increasing its mass at a rate of 7 millionths of the mass of the Sun — or about 2 times the mass of the Earth — per year.

Crédit:

ESO

À propos de l'image

Identification:eso0803a
Type:Dessin
Date de publication:29 janvier 2008
Communiqués de presse en rapport:eso0803
Taille:1363 x 1089 px

À propos de l'objet

Nom:MWC 147
Type:Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Young Stellar Object
Distance:2500 années lumière
Catégorie:Illustrations
Stars

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