Zooming in on the Flying Saucer protoplanetary disc

This video takes us on a journey to 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 — a protoplanetary disc,  the early stage in the creation of a planetary system. 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 final close-up infrared view of the Flying Saucer comes from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

Credit:

ESO/N. Risinger (skysurvey.org)/S. Guisard (www.eso.org/~sguisard)/Digitized Sky Survey 2/NASA/ESA. Music: Johan B. Monell (www.johanmonell.com)

About the Video

Id:eso1604a
Release date:3 February 2016, 12:00
Related releases:eso1604
Duration:50 s
Frame rate:30 fps

About the Object

Name:Rho Ophiuchi
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Appearance : Emission
Category:Nebulae
Stars

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