Technical facts about this news release: About the Object AU Microscopii Object Name: AU Microscopii (AU Mic, GJ 803, HD197481) Object Description: Spectral Type "M0" Star with Debris Disk Position (J2000): R.A. 20h 45m 09s.53 Dec. -31° 20' 27".2 Constellation: Microscopium Distance: Approximately 33 light-years (10 parsecs) About the Data Data Description: This image was created from HST data from the following proposal: 9987- H.C. Ford (JHU), J. Krist (STScI), and M. Clampin (GSFC). Members of the science team include: J.E. Krist (STScI/JPL); D.R. Ardila (JHU); D.A. Golimowski (JHU); M. Clampin (NASA/Goddard); H.C. Ford (JHU); G.D. Illingworth (UCO-Lick); G.F. Hartig (STScI) and the ACS Science Team. Mission/Instrument: Hubble: ACS/HRC Exposure Date(s): April 3, 2004 Exposure Time: 1.4 hours Filters: F606W("V") About the Image Image Credit: NASA, ESA, J.E. Krist (STScI/JPL); D.R. Ardila (JHU); D.A. Golimowski (JHU); M. Clampin (NASA/Goddard); H.C. Ford (JHU); G.D. Illingworth (UCO-Lick); G.F. Hartig (STScI) and the ACS Science Team Release Date: December 9, 2004 Orientation: Disk of Debris Around Red Dwarf Star AU Microscopii [ http://imgsrc.hubbl…] About the Object HD 107146 Object Name: HD 107146 Object Description: Spectral Type "G2V" Star with Debris Disk Position (J2000): R.A. 12h 19m 06s.50 Dec. +16° 32' 53".9 Constellation: Coma Berenices Distance: Approximately 88 light-years (27 parsecs) About the Data Data Description: This image was created from HST data from the following proposals, 9987 and 10330: H.C. Ford (JHU), J. Krist (STScI), and M. Clampin (GSFC). Members of the science team include: D.R. Ardila (JHU); D.A. Golimowski (JHU); J.E. Krist (STScI/JPL); M. Clampin (NASA/Goddard); J.P. Williams (UH/IfA); J.P. Blakeslee (JHU); H.C. Ford (JHU); G.F. Hartig (STScI); G.D. Illingworth (UCO-Lick) and the ACS Science Team. Mission/Instrument: Hubble: ACS/HRC Exposure Date(s): June 5/July 20, 2004 Exposure Time: 1.3 hours Filters: F606W("V") and F814W("I") About the Image Image Credit: NASA, ESA, D.R. Ardila (JHU); D.A. Golimowski (JHU); J.E. Krist (STScI/JPL); M. Clampin (NASA/Goddard); J.P. Williams (UH/IfA); J.P. Blakeslee (JHU); H.C. Ford (JHU); G.F. Hartig (STScI); G.D. Illingworth (UCO-Lick) and the ACS Science Team Release Date: December 9, 2004 Orientation: Planetary Debris Disk Encircling Yellow Dwarf Star HD 107146 [ http://imgsrc.hubbl…] About the Spitzer Data Object Name(s): HD 117176, HD 33636, HD 52265, HD 82943, HD 50554, HD 128311 Object Description: Stars with Debris Disks Mission/Instrument: Spitzer/MIPS Wavelength: 24 and 70 um Image Credit : NASA/JPL-Caltech/C. Beichman (Caltech) Release Date: December 9, 2004
note:
*Image Type:*: Artwork
note:
*Release Date*:December 9, 2004 01:00 PM (EST)
note:
*Title*:Spitzer and Hubble Capture Evolving Planetary Systems
note:
*News Release Number:*: STScI-2004-33g
note:
*Description*: This artist's concept depicts a distant hypothetical solar system, similar in age to our own. Looking inward from the system's outer fringes, a ring of dusty debris can be seen, and within it, planets circling a star the size of our Sun. This debris is all that remains of the planet-forming disc from which the planets evolved. Planets are formed when dusty material in a large disc surrounding a young star clumps together. Leftover material is eventually blown out by solar wind or pushed out by gravitational interactions with planets. Billions of years later, only an outer disc of debris remains. These outer debris discs are too faint to be imaged by visible-light telescopes. They are washed out by the glare of the Sun. However, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope can detect their heat, or excess thermal emission, in infrared light. This allows astronomers to study the aftermath of planet building in distant solar systems like our own.
