Press Release 05-122
Dustiest Star Could Harbor a Young Earth

The thick dust shrouding BD +20 307 is thought to result from the collisions of rocky objects. Credit and Larger Version

July 20, 2005

A young star located about 300 light-years away may greatly improve our understanding of the formation of Earth-like planets.

Known as BD +20 307, the object is shrouded by the dustiest environment ever seen so close to a Sun-like star—or at least, to such a star that has already passed through its earliest birth pangs. Indeed, astronomers believe the thick, warm dust clouds around BD +20 307 are quite new by galactic standards, and are being fed by ongoing collisions among rocky bodies that orbit the star at distances comparable to that between the Earth and Sun.

The findings, published in the July 21 issue of the journal, Nature, were based on observations done at the Gemini Observatory, which is partially funded by the National Science Foundation, and at the W.M. Keck Observatories. The observations support the idea that comparable collisions of rocky bodies occurred in our own solar system about 4.5 billion years ago, at a time when the Earth itself was forming. So, more discoveries of this sort would indicate the rocky planets and moons of our inner solar system are not as rare as some astronomers believe.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
M. Mitchell Waldrop, NSF (703) 292-7752 mwaldrop@nsf.gov
Peter Michaud, Gemini Observatory (808) 974-2510 pmichaud@gemini.edu

Principal Investigators
Inseok Song, Gemini Observatory (808) 974-2609 isong@gemini.edu

Related Websites
Gemini Observatory: http://www.gemini.edu/
W. M. Keck Observatory: http://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, its budget is $9.5 billion, which includes $3.0 billion provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 44,400 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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