Flying Saucer, 2MASS J16281370-2431391
The young star 2MASS J16281370-2431391 lies in the spectacular Rho Ophiuchi star formation region, about 400 light-years from Earth. It is surrounded by a disk of gas and dust called a "protoplanetary disk" as they are the early stages in the creation of planetary systems. This particular disk is seen nearly edge-on, and its appearance in visible light pictures has led to its being nicknamed the Flying Saucer. The main image shows part of the Rho Ophiuchi region and a much enlarged close-up infrared view of the Flying Saucer from the Hubble Space Telescope is shown as an insert.
Size: 4650px × 2906px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 2, 2010s, 2016, 21st, 2mass, absorption, accretion, astronomical, astronomy, body, celestial, century, circumstellar, cloud, complex, cosmic, dark, deep, digitized, disc, disk, flying, formation, heavenly, j16281370-2431391, nebula, nebulae, nursery, object, oph, ophiuchi, protoplanetary, region, rho, saucer, science, sky, space, star, star-forming, stellar, survey
