NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured the most detailed visible-light images ever taken of the largest known protoplanetary disk surrounding a young star. This massive structure is far more chaotic and turbulent than astronomers expected, with huge swaths of gas and dust spread high above and below the disk. Even more unusual is that the longest filament-like structure is only found on one side.
This discovery is astrophysical journalprovides scientists with rare observations of how planets form in extreme space environments and highlights Hubble’s continued role in space exploration.
Huge planet-forming disk never seen before
The system, known as IRAS 23077+6707 and also known as Dracula’s Chibito, is located approximately 1,000 light-years from Earth. This giant disk spans about 400 billion miles in diameter, about 40 times the width of the solar system to the Kuiper belt.
At the center of the disk is a young star, hidden by a thick cloud of dust and gas. Researchers believe the object could be a single massive star or two stars orbiting each other. Scientists say it may not only be the largest planet-forming disk ever confirmed, but also one of the strangest.
“Imaging protoplanetary disks rarely provides such a level of detail, and these new Hubble images show that planetary nurseries may be much more active and chaotic than we expected,” said lead author Christina Monsch of the Center for Astrophysics. Harvard University and Smithsonian University (CfA). “We are looking at this disk almost head-on, and its wispy upper layer and asymmetrical features are particularly impressive. Both the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have glimpsed similar structures in other disks, but IRAS 23077+6707 It provides us with an extraordinary perspective and allows us to track its substructure at an unprecedented level of detail in visible light, making this system a unique new laboratory for studying planet formation and the environments in which it occurs.”
This unusual nickname reflects the background of the researchers involved. One of the scientists is from Transylvania, and the other is from Uruguay, where the chivito is a popular sandwich. Viewed side-on, the disk resembles a hamburger, with a dark center surrounded by glowing layers of dust and gas above and below.
Mysterious single-sided filament
Scientists were particularly intrigued by the disk’s uneven appearance. Hubble’s images reveal towering filament-like structures extending from only one side of the disk, while the other side appears sharply delineated and lacking similar features.
The researchers believe this strange asymmetry could be caused by active processes within the system, such as fresh material falling into the disk or interactions with the nearby environment.
“We were stunned to see how asymmetric this disk was,” said co-investigator and CfA astronomer Joshua Bennett Lovell. “Hubble has given us a front row seat to the chaotic process of forming disks as they build new planets. This process is still not fully understood, but now we can study it in entirely new ways.”
Clues to understanding how planetary systems are formed
Planetary systems develop from huge disks of gas and dust surrounding young stars. Over time, some of the material falls into the star, and the remaining material gradually forms planets.
Scientists estimate that IRAS 23077+6707’s mass could be equivalent to 10 to 30 times the mass of Jupiter, providing enough material to create multiple giant planets. Researchers say the system could resemble an oversized version of the early solar system.
“Theoretically, IRAS 23077+6707 could be home to a vast planetary system,” Monche said. “Although planet formation may be different in such large-scale environments, the underlying processes are likely similar. Although we currently have more questions than answers, these new images provide a starting point for understanding how planets form over time and in different environments.”
Hubble’s continued discoveries
The Hubble Space Telescope has been in operation for more than 30 years and continues to make important discoveries that expand scientists’ understanding of the universe. Hubble is a joint project between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, oversees telescope and mission operations, and Lockheed Martin Space in Denver also supports operations. The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, manages Hubble’s science activities for NASA.
