- Original Caption Released with Image:
-
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope observed a fledgling solar system like the
one depicted in this artist's concept, and discovered deep within it
enough water vapor to fill the oceans on Earth five times. This water
vapor starts out in the form of ice in a cloudy cocoon (not pictured) that
surrounds the embryonic star, called NGC 1333-IRAS 4B (buried in center of
image). Material from the cocoon, including ice, falls toward the center
of the cloud. The ice then smacks down onto a dusty pre-planetary disk
circling the stellar embryo (doughnut-shaped cloud) and vaporizes.
Eventually, this water might make its way into developing planets.
- Image Credit:
-
NASA/JPL-Caltech
|
