The Rings of Space. © ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/S. Marino et al.
Not all rings belong to fantasy worlds. Astronomers find real ones in space. The rings shown are called debris discs, leftovers from the process of planet formation around other stars.
Our own Solar System has one too: the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune filled with asteroids and comets. Powerful planets like Neptune likely stopped this material from coming together to form larger worlds. Because of this, debris discs are thought to be the remnants of planet formation, and studying them helps scientists understand how planetary systems form.
Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers captured detailed images of 24 debris discs around distant stars. In the photos, orange shows where dust is located, while blue shows gas in six of the discs.
Where this gas comes from is still debated. It may be ancient gas left over from the star’s birth, or it could be new gas released when dust particles collide. One disc, around the star HD 121617, stands out.
By studying more debris discs, astronomers hope to uncover more secrets about how planets, and their beautiful rings, are born.
source ESO
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