Water in the planet-forming disc around the star V883 Orionis (artist’s impression) (IMAGE)
Caption
This artist’s impression shows the planet-forming disc around the star V883 Orionis. In the outermost part of the disc water is frozen out as ice and therefore can’t be easily detected. An outburst of energy from the star heats the inner disc to a temperature where water is gaseous, enabling astronomers to detect it. The inset image shows the two kinds of water molecules studied in this disc: normal water, with one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, and a heavier version where one hydrogen atom is replaced with deuterium, a heavy isotope of hydrogen.
Credit
ESO/L. Calçada **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