Composite views of HK Tauri from Hubble and ALMA

This image of the binary system HK Tauri combines visible light and infrared data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope with new data from ALMA. The ALMA observations of this system have provided the clearest picture ever of protoplanetary discs in a double star. The new result demonstrates one possible way to explain why so many exoplanets — unlike the planets in the Solar System — came to have strange, eccentric or inclined orbits.

Credit:

B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF); K. Stapelfeldt et al. (NASA/ESA Hubble)

About the Image

Id:eso1423d
Type:Observation
Release date:30 July 2014, 19:00
Related releases:eso1423
Size:1200 x 680 px

About the Object

Name:HK Tauri
Type:Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Binary
Constellation:Taurus
Category:Stars

Image Formats

Large JPEG
130.0 KB
Screensize JPEG
72.4 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):4 31 50.71
Position (Dec):24° 24' 19.55"
Field of view:0.18 x 0.10 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 94.3° right of vertical