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Silicate Crystal Formation in the Disk of an Erupting Star
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Silicate Crystal Formation in the Disk of an Erupting Star
This artists concept illustrates how silicate crystals like those found in comets can be created by an outburst from a growing star. The image shows a young sun-like star encircled by its planet-forming disk of gas and dust. The silicate that makes up most of the dust would have begun as non-crystallized, amorphous particles. Streams of material are seen spiraling from the disk onto the star increasing its mass and causing the star to brighten and heat up dramatically. The outburst causes temperatures to rise in the stars surrounding disk. When the disk warms from the stars outburst, the amorphous particles of silicate melt. As they cool off, they transform into forsterite, a type of silicate crystal often found in comets in our solar system.
In April 2008, the Spitzer Space Telescope detected evidence of this process taking place on the disk of a young sun-like star called EX Lupi
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Bright Center Circle Core Cosmic Cosmic Dust Digital Composite Disc Disk Dust Glow Illuminated Nucleus Orange Outburst Rendering Rendition Ring Shining Spiral Surrounding Swirl Encircle Enclose View From Space
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This print showcases the mesmerizing phenomenon of silicate crystal formation in the disk of an erupting star. The artist's concept beautifully illustrates how these crystals, similar to those found in comets, can be created by a powerful outburst from a growing star. In this image, we witness a young sun-like star surrounded by its planet-forming disk composed of gas and dust. Initially, the silicate particles within this dusty environment are non-crystallized and amorphous. However, as streams of material spiral from the disk onto the star, increasing its mass and causing it to dramatically brighten and heat up, temperatures rise within the surrounding disk. As a result of this intense outburst, the amorphous silicate particles melt when exposed to higher temperatures. Once they cool off again, they undergo a remarkable transformation into forsterite – a type of silicate crystal commonly found in comets within our own solar system. The Spitzer Space Telescope detected evidence of this fascinating process occurring on the disk of EX Lupi – a young sun-like star – back in April 2008. This stunning view from space allows us to marvel at the cosmic dance taking place between stars and their surrounding disks as new worlds potentially take shape amidst swirling clouds of cosmic dust.
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