Preferred Model for Explaining ALMA Observations of Beta Pictoris (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Preferred Model for Explaining ALMA Observations of Beta Pictoris

Caption

This artist's concept illustrates the preferred model for explaining ALMA observations of Beta Pictoris. At the outer fringes of the system, the gravitational influence of a hypothetical giant planet (bottom left) captures comets into a dense, massive swarm (right) where frequent collisions occur.

Credit

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/F. Reddy

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