Source: ESO Science Release eso1604
The Flying Saucer protoplanetary disc around 2MASS J16281370-2431391.
Image credits: Digitized Sky Survey 2/NASA/ESA
Astronomers have used the ALMA and IRAM telescopes to make the first direct measurement of the temperature of the large dust grains in the outer parts of a planet-forming disc around a young star. By applying a novel technique to observations of an object nicknamed the Flying Saucer they find that the grains are much colder than expected: −266 degrees Celsius. This surprising result suggests that models of these discs may need to be revised.(learn more)
