Hubble Captures a Protoplanetary Disk

Astroturtle writes "The Hubble Space Telescope's new Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) has captured a detailed image of spiral rings in a distant protoplanetary disk -- the pancake-shaped cloud of gas and dust around a young star in which planets are expected to condense. But contrary to earlier suggestions, the intricate structure of this particular disk is probably caused by a nearby companion star rather than by embedded planets starting to form."

Comments

It was about time.

[schwatoo]

I guess the war on Protoplanetary Disks is going well then.

Proprietary Discs?

[yerricde]

After reading the headline, my first thought was of a copyright infringement sting operation. But then I realized it said "Protoplanetary" and not "Proprietary".

Re:Proprietary Discs?

[Gleng]

I suppose it's time to head down to the patent office and register "A method of condensing planets in a pancake-shaped cloud of gas and dust around a young star"

Re:Makes one wonder

[digital bath]

Hopefully. It would be a shame to have written all those sci-fi books and have them all turn out wrong...

Hubble Space Avenger

[1nv4d3r]

Officials could not comment on the captured disk's plans, but did say that it had been taken to Guantanamo Bay for further questioning. Any large amount of dust must be checked out, especially with so much 'nuculer' activity in the region.

Re:Hubble Space Avenger

[jasonditz]

I believe the correct spelling is "New-key-lurr"

slashdotted!

[unborracho]

anyone have a mirror?

CENSORED!

[kinnell]

The black areas are omitted because of poor data

Yeah right! What they mean is that there was something phallic looking in the picture. Or maybe this is part of the movement to stop the publication of scientific findings which might be useful to terrorists. Either that, or they didn't want us to know about the alien civilisation they're waging a secret war against. Is nothing sacred?

embedded planets

[AndroidCat]

the intricate structure of this particular disk is probably caused by a nearby companion star rather than by embedded planets starting to form.

If there were embedded planets there, they wouldn't be allowed to tell where they are, or face expulsion.

Re:Original Image

[Anonymous Coward]

They had to clip out the alien spacecraft.

Re:OT gripe about idiotic web sites

[TotallyUseless]

When sending a grip to people, I find it most effective to use the Kung Fu grip! That usually gets their attention

Re:Makes one wonder

[orangesquid]

Did anyone besides me see the story title and think: Wow, straight out of Ghostbusters!

I think the best place to look for life "out there" is wherever there's dryers that eat socks, because that's a sure sign of intelligent life.

I hold a similar semi-religious viewpoint, but sometimes my views are more along the lines of... God == Universe. Makes religious ideas different in interesting ways...