Dimethyl ether spotted in disc around IRS 48 star (IMAGE)

ESO

Dimethyl ether spotted in disc around IRS 48 star

Caption

This composite image features an artistic impression of the planet-forming disc around the IRS 48 star, also known as Oph-IRS 48. The disc contains a cashew-nut-shaped region in its southern part, which traps millimetre-sized dust grains that can come together and grow into kilometre-sized objects like comets, asteroids and potentially even planets. Recent observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) spotted several complex organic molecules in this region, including dimethyl ether, the largest molecule found in a planet-forming disc to date. The emission signaling the presence of this molecule (real observations shown in blue) is clearly stronger in the disc’s dust trap. A model of the molecule is also shown in this composite.

Credit

ESO/L. Calçada, ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/A. Pohl, van der Marel et al., Brunken et al. (Credit must be given to the creator and the European Southern Observatory must be mentioned in the media article.)

Usage Restrictions

Credit must be given to the creator.

License

CC BY

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