ESO Science Release | ALMA | 2016 Feb 03
ALMA finds unexpectedly cold grains in planet-forming disc
[img3=""]http://cdn.eso.org/images/screen/eso1604a.jpg[/img3][hr][/hr]Astronomers have used the ALMA and IRAM telescopes to make the first direct measurement of the temperature of the large dust grains in the outer parts of a planet-forming disc around a young star. By applying a novel technique to observations of an object nicknamed the Flying Saucer they find that the grains are much colder than expected: −266 degrees Celsius. This surprising result suggests that models of these discs may need to be revised.
The international team, led by Stephane Guilloteau at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux, France, measured the temperature of large dust grains around 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 — such discs are called protoplanetary discs as they are the early stages in the creation of planetary systems. 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 shadow of the Flying Saucer: A very low temperature for large dust grains - S. Guilloteau et al
- Astronomy & Astrophysics 586:L1 (2016 Feb) DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201527620
arXiv.org > astro-ph > arXiv:1601.01548 > 07 Jan 2016