File:Ssc2004-08b.jpg
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Summary
[edit]Using sensitive instruments onboard NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists have seen the first building blocks of planets, and possibly future life, deep within dusty discs around young stars. The image shows spectra, obtained by Spitzer's infrared spectrograph, of two stars that are so young they are still embedded in protoplanetary discs. These thick discs of gas and dust are the leftover material from the formation of the stars themselves. The spectra are graphical representations of a celestial object's unique blend of light. Characteristic patterns, or fingerprints, within the spectra allow astronomers to identify the object's chemical composition.
In both infrared spectra, the presence of important chemicals for the formation of new worlds can be seen clearly. The broad depression in the center of each spectrum signifies the presence of silicates, which are chemically similar to beach sand. In fact, a good match for the chemistry of these crystalline silicates may be the famous green beaches of Hawaii, which get their color from olivine crystals in the sand. The artist's conception in the background depicts a close-up view of tiny olivine crystals, which scientists believe make up at least some of the dust grains, becoming coated with ice deep within the disc. The depth of the silicate absorption feature indicates that the dusty cocoon surrounding the embedded protostar is extremely thick. Other absorption dips are produced by water ice (blue), methanol ice (red), and carbon dioxide ice (green). The fact that water, methanol and carbon dioxide appear in solid form suggests that the material immediately surrounding the protostar is cold.
Original upload log
[edit]DescriptionSsc2004-08b.jpg | Spitzer Spectra of Protoplanetary Discs |
Date | |
Source | http://gallery.spitzer.caltech.edu/Imagegallery/image.php?image_name=ssc2004-08b |
Author | NASA/JPL-Caltech/D. Watson (University of Rochester) |
Permission (Reusing this file) |
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/mediaimages/copyright.shtml |
Other versions | العربيَّة |
Individual images
[edit]see http://gallery.spitzer.caltech.edu/Imagegallery/image.php?image_name=ssc2004-08b High quality tif files also avaliable.
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[edit]Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse |
This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted". (See Template:PD-USGov, NASA copyright policy page or JPL Image Use Policy.) | ||
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Date/Time | Thumbnail | Dimensions | User | Comment | |
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current | 23:38, 5 July 2007 | 2,000 × 2,000 (1.4 MB) | Anzibanonzi (talk | contribs) | Using sensitive instruments onboard NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists have seen the first building blocks of planets, and possibly future life, deep within dusty discs around young stars. The image shows spectra, obtained by Spitzer's infrared sp |
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Orientation | Normal |
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Horizontal resolution | 300 dpi |
Vertical resolution | 300 dpi |
Software used | Adobe Photoshop 7.0 |
File change date and time | 15:14, 26 May 2004 |
Color space | Uncalibrated |