Friday, July 19, 2013

First Snow Ever Seen Around A Star Thrills Astronomers




Before It's News | Popular Space





First Snow Ever Seen Around A Star Thrills Astronomers



The sight of a snowfall can thrill children, but the first-ever snow line seen around a distant star gives astronomers an even greater thrill because of what it reveals about the formation of planets and our solar system's history. Astronomers using the new Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope have taken the first-ever image of a snow line in an infant solar system. This frosty landmark is thought to play in an essential role in the formation and chemical make-up of planets around a young star. Artist concept of snow line in TW Hydrae showing water covered ice grains in the inner disk (4.5 -- 30 AU, blue) and CO ice covered grains in the outer disk (>30 AU, green).






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