The frigid 'Flying Saucer': Unexpectedly cold grains in planet-forming disc
Wednesday, February 3, 2016 - 21:30
in Astronomy & Space
Astronomers have made the first direct measurement of the temperature of the large dust grains in the outer parts of a planet-forming disc around a young star. By applying a novel technique to observations of an object nicknamed the Flying Saucer they find that the grains are much colder than expected: -266 degrees Celsius. This surprising result suggests that models of these discs may need to be revised.