Dust cloud

L. Ricci, ALMA (NRAO/NAOJ/ESO); B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF)
December 11, 2014
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L. Ricci, ALMA (NRAO/NAOJ/ESO); B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF)

ALMA image of the dust surrounding the star HD 107146. Dust in the outer reaches of the disk is thicker than in the inner regions, suggesting that a swarm of Pluto-size planetesimals is causing smaller objects to smash together. The dark ring-like structure in the middle portion of the disk may be evidence of a gap where a planet is sweeping its orbit clear of dust.

L. Ricci, ALMA (NRAO/NAOJ/ESO); B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF)