Fomalhaut cs2 Illustration

This artist's concept shows the sequence of events leading up to the creation of dust cloud cs2 around the star Fomalhaut. In Panel 1, the star Fomalhaut appears in the top left corner. Two white dots, located in the bottom right corner, represent the two massive objects in orbit around Fomalhaut. In Panel 2, the objects approach each other. Panel 3 shows the violent collision of these two objects. In Panel 4, the resulting dust cloud cs2 becomes visible and starlight pushes the dust grains away from the star.  Illustration is labeled Artist's Concept in the bottom left corner. This four-panel image shows the sequence of events leading up to, during, and following the collision of two objects in orbit around a star. It consists of two rectangular panels on the top and two on the bottom. The top left panel is labeled 1 in its bottom right corner. At the top left of this panel is a white star with a diffuse and ghostly white halo against a black background. Several faint, streaky, white, elliptical rings surround the star. The rings are viewed nearly face on. In the bottom right quarter of the panel are two seemingly tiny white objects in very close proximity to one another. The top right panel is labeled 2 in its bottom right corner. At the top left of this panel is a white star with a diffuse and ghostly white halo against a black background. A faint, streaky, white, elliptical ring surround the star. The ring is viewed nearly edge on. In the bottom right quarter of the panel are two moonlike bodies in very close proximity to one another. These bodies are partially illuminated by the star, much like the Earth’s Moon in its last quarter. The bottom left panel is labeled 3 in its bottom right corner. At the panel’s top left corner, against a black background, appears the white star surrounded by a ghostly, diffuse, white halo. A faint, streaky, white, elliptical ring surround the star. The ring is viewed nearly edge on. A broad, translucent streak of orange cuts across the bottom third of the image. On the right third of the image, an explosive and fiery-looking orange object appears. Orange streamers, filaments, and particles radiate from its center. Within the object but slightly off-center to the right, is a mottled, yellow, amorphous blob. This blob is outlined on three sides in white, and on the fourth, right side in dark orange and red. White particles emanate from this blob, particularly on the right side. The bottom right panel is labeled 4 in its bottom, right corner.  At the panel’s top left corner, against a black background, appears the white star surrounded by a ghostly, diffuse, white halo. Several faint, streaky, white, elliptical rings surround the star. The rings are viewed nearly face on. In the bottom right quarter of the panel is a seemingly small, white object with a trailing tail that looks very much like a comet.Illustration is labeled Artist’s Concept in the bottom left corner. This four-panel image shows the sequence of events leading up to, during, and following the collision of two objects in orbit around a star. Please refer to the Extended Description for more details.

Image Description: Illustration is labeled Artist’s Concept in the bottom left corner. This four-panel image shows the sequence of events leading up to, during, and following the collision of two objects in orbit around a star. Please refer to the Extended Description for more details.