Observations Reveal Origin Of Dust Around Nearby Star

by Staff Writers

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Apr 23, 2006

Japanese astronomers report they have employed a combination of observing strategies and advanced imaging technologies to produce the most detailed picture yet of a dusty disk surrounding a nearby star.

Their observations, of the disk surrounding Beta Pictoris - and produced by the 8.2 meter Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii - suggest it contains asteroid and comet-like objects that are colliding, much in the same way as the solar system containing Earth and the other planets formed some 4.5 billion years ago.

Full article here:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Observations_Reveal_Origin_Of_Dust_Around_Nearby_Star.html