The spectral energy distribution of protostars
Monday, August 6, 2012 - 06:30
in Astronomy & Space
(Phys.org) -- Stars form when gravitational forces coalesce the gas and dust in interstellar clouds until the material forms clumps dense enough to become stars. Precisely how this happens, however, is still very uncertain. The infall of matter is probably not symmetric, it may be inhibited by the pressure of very hot radiation around the young stellar embryo, or perhaps it is constrained in other ways. These processes enable surrounding material to develop into disks around the stars, and it in turn can evolve into planets. The differences in the conditions are important to our understanding of the formation of our solar system because planets like the Earth are built from just such material that does not make it into the star.