Anatomy of a protoplanetary disk

Anatomy of a protoplanetary disk: As fine dust particles clump together deep inside the protoplanetary disk, ultraviolet radiation from a neaby hot star eats away at the disk. The outer portions of the gas bubble are then heated and removed by energetic ultraviolet radiation. Material falling from the disk toward the central object fuels twin gas jets.

Links:

• NASA Press release
• Protoplanetary Disks in the Orion Nebula
• Proplyd in the Orion Nebula (1)
• Proplyd in the Orion Nebula (2)
• Proplyd in the Orion Nebula (3)
• Proplyd in the Orion Nebula (4)
• Proplyd in the Orion Nebula (5)