Cosmic dust discs withstand hellfire beside massive young stars in center of Milky Way
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 - 07:30
in Astronomy & Space
Astronomers have discovered an unusual phenomenon in the center of the Milky Way: They detected about 20 rotating dust and gas discs in each cluster hosting exceptionally large and hot stars. The existence of these discs in the presence of the destructive UV radiation field of their massive neighbors came as a surprise. The science team is pondering how these rotating discs are able to withstand evaporation under these extreme conditions.