NASA has foretell the detection of gases that seem to be all that is left after comet or asteroid were vaporized from getting too close to the star HD 172555 . The discovery strengthens our confidence in models of former solar system shaping , and suggests the untried star probably has at least one giant planet in the appendage of constitution .
HD 172555 is located 95 million light - years away and organise part of the 23 - million - class - oldBeta Pictoris Moving Groupof stars , all of which formed together . By most people ’s measure , that is an enormous years and distance , but to an astronomer it is the equivalent of a bambino live in the next block . accordingly , the Hubble Space Telescope has been pass some of its valuable prison term essay this star and the system forming around it .
At thewinter meetingof the American Astronomical Society in Grapevine , Texas , Dr Carol Gradyof the Goddard Spaceflight Center reported that Hubble has detected gaseous atomic number 14 and atomic number 6 , adding to anearlier discoveryof calcium . These are like to what we see left behind when comet are destroyed in close approaching to the Sun . Although we have no way of corroborate the gases ' origins directly , Grady is confident that something similar is happening to HD 172555 , but with many object falling onto the ace at once , allowing us to notice their legacy at this distance .
Grady take note that like observations have been found for two other maven , both also less than 40 million years old , bring home the bacon enough of a sample to suggest that such youthful stars frequently get a rain of comets . “ Watching these events gives us perceptiveness into what probably went on in the early days of our Solar System , when comet were pelting the inner solar scheme body , including Earth , ” she say in astatement . “ In fact , these genius - grazing comets may make life potential , because they carry water and other life - forming element , such as carbon , to sublunary planet . "
The three chemical element so far detected passing across HD 172555 ’s face could arise from either comet or asteroid , leaving the identity of the doomed object nameless . Grady considers comet the more probable source , and intends a follow - up subject field looking for the presence of H or oxygen , which would confirm the origin as being cometary rather than rocky .
Since comets form far enough out from the star for H2O to be solid , the notice raise the question of what might disrupt their reach , sending them Icarus - like towards their sun . A probable explanation is the disruptive gravitational force-out of a major planet that ’s Jupiter - sized or larger , but this has yet to be confirmed .
