SAO/ASIAA/SMA/K. Monsch et al; Optical: Pan-STARRS
The inset for this image shows compelling evidence that IRAS 23077 contains a planet-forming disk. Along with dust grains, the SMA can also observe the cold carbon monoxide gas that comprises the bulk of a planet-forming disk. By measuring its velocity structure and dividing this into "blue-shifted" and "red-shifted" components showing material moving towards us and away from us respectively, the team showed that the gas is rotating around the central star, as expected for a planet-forming disk.
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