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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня WR 104: спиральная звезда http://www.variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1163167/eng |
Credit & Copyright: U.C. Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory,
W.M. Keck Observatory
Explanation:
Like a cosmic lawn sprinkler, dust streaming from a rotating
star system creates a pinwheel pattern in
this false color infrared image.
Astronomers discovered the surprising star dust scenario using
a sophisticated interferometer and
the 10 meter Keck I telescope
to observe the bright Wolf-Rayet star WR 104.
Wolf-Rayet stars are thought to be massive objects on
the brink of a cataclysmic supernova explosion - having grown
so hot and bright that their intense
light begins to drive material away in a stellar wind.
The problem is, their starlight would also be so intense that any
dust flakes should be destroyed!
A possible
solution to this
dusty dilemma
is that a companion star exists hidden in the
bright central region,
generating wind interactions which shield
a relatively narrow dust forming region from the light of WR 104.
As the binary system rotates,
the spray of surviving dust particles appears to spiral outward.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.