Illustration of the Dynamics of a Proplyd

 Illustration of the Dynamics of a Proplyd

As fine dust particles clump together deep inside the protoplanetary disk, ultraviolet radiation from a nearby hot star eats away at the disk. The outer portions of the gas bubble are then heated and removed by energetic ultraviolet radiation. Material falling from the disk toward the central object fuels twin gas jets.

Credits

Illustration Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI)