Astronomers Make Groundbreaking Discovery of Circumstellar Disc around High-Mass Star in Another Galaxy
In an unprecedented discovery, astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have detected a rotating disk around a high-mass star in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This observation marks the first time such a structure has been observed in another galaxy, offering crucial insights into the star formation process in diverse galactic environments.
The detection of this rotating disk, detailed in the journal Nature, sheds light on the differences in star formation in galaxies beyond our own Milky Way, emphasizing the lower dust and metal content present in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
This groundbreaking finding, led by an international team of astronomers, provides a unique glimpse into the dynamics of accretion in a different galactic environment. The discovery showcases the transformative potential of advanced technological facilities like ALMA in the study of stars and their formation at extraordinary distances in neighboring galaxies.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Anna McLeod from Durham University, expressed astonishment at the discovery, stating, “When I first saw evidence for a rotating structure in the ALMA data, I could not believe that we had detected the first extragalactic accretion disc; it was a special moment. We know discs are vital to forming stars and planets in our galaxy, and here, for the first time, we’re seeing direct evidence for this in another galaxy.”
The revelation of this circumstellar disc is anticipated to enhance the prospects of discovering similar systems with ALMA and the upcoming Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), driving the advancement of our understanding of star and disc formation across diverse galactic environments.
For further details on this groundbreaking discovery, please refer to the article “Astronomers Uncover a Planet-Forming Disc in Another Galaxy.”
Video Source: ESO
Reference:
“A Probable Keplerian Disk Feeding an Optically Revealed Massive Young Star” by Anna F. McLeod, Pamela D. Klaassen, Megan Reiter, Jonathan Henshaw, Rolf Kuiper and Adam Ginsburg, 29 November 2023, Nature.DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06790-2
