A Gas ring in space

A Gas ring in space

ALMA Spots Supernova Dust Factory

http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1401

Striking new observations with the tacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope capture, for the first time, the remains of a recent supernova brimming with freshly formed dust. If enough of this dust makes the perilous transition into interstellar space, it could explain how many galaxies acquired their dusty, dusky appearance.

Galaxies can be remarkably dusty places and supernovae are thought to be a primary source of that dust, especially in the early Universe. But direct evidence of a supernova's dust making capabilities has been slim up to now, and could not account for the copious amount of dust detected in young, distant galaxies.

But now observations with ALMA are changing that. "We have found a remarkably large dust mass concentrated in the central part of the ejecta from a relatively young and nearby supernova," said Remy Indebetouw, an astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the University of Virginia, both in Charlottesville, USA.

"This is the first time we've been able to really image where the dust as formed, which is important in understanding the evolution of galaxies."

Credit ESO: www.eso.org

http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1401

Music with thanks to:-

"Piano Hymn, Instrumental" Album "Breaks In The Sun Instrumentals"
By Weinland

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Weinland