Artist's Concept of a Debris Disk Outside a Planetary System

Artist's Concept of a Debris Disk Outside a Planetary System


Dec 9, 2004

This animation portrays an artist's concept of a distant hypothetical solar system, about the same age as our own. It begins close to the star, and then moves out past a number of planets. Though "extrasolar" planets are ... more
Animation of the Development of a Debris Disk into a Planetary System

Animation of the Development of a Debris Disk into a Planetary System


Dec 9, 2004

This animation shows the evolution of a planet-forming disc around a star. Initially, the young disc is bright and thick with dust, providing raw materials for building planets. In the first 10 million years or so, gaps ... more