ALMA observes the birth of a monster star
Observations of the dark cloud SDC 335.579-0.292 using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter array (ALMA) have given astronomers the best view yet of a monster star in the process of forming. A stellar womb with over 500 times the mass than the Sun has been found and appears as the yellow blob near the centre of this picture. This is the largest ever seen in the Milky Way — and it is still growing. The embryonic star within is hungrily feeding on the material that is racing inwards. It is expected to give birth to a very brilliant star with up to 100 times the mass of the Sun.
This image combines data from ALMA and NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope.
Credit:ALMA (ESO/NRAJ/NRAO)/NASA/Spitzer/JPL-Caltech/GLIMPSE
About the Image
| Id: | eso1331a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 10 July 2013, 12:00 |
| Related releases: | eso1331 |
| Size: | 1225 x 874 px |
About the Object
| Name: | SDC 335.579-0.292 |
| Type: | Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Star Formation |
| Distance: | 11000 light years |
| Constellation: | Norma |
| Category: | Nebulae Stars |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 16 31 1.43 |
| Position (Dec): | -48° 42' 32.98" |
| Field of view: | 6.14 x 4.38 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 21.9° right of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Infrared Channel 1 | 3.6 μm |
Spitzer Space Telescope
IRAC (Spitzer) |
| Infrared Channel 2 | 4.5 μm |
Spitzer Space Telescope
IRAC (Spitzer) |
| Infrared Channel 4 | 8.0 μm |
Spitzer Space Telescope
IRAC (Spitzer) |
| Millimeter Band 3 | 3.2 mm | Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array |