A geyser of hot gas flowing from a star

[n2doc]

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a new image of Herbig-Haro 110, a geyser of hot gas flowing from a newborn star.

Although Herbig–Haro (HH) objects come in a wide array of shapes, the basic configuration is usually the same. Twin jets of heated gas, ejected in opposite directions from a forming star, stream through interstellar space. These outflows are fueled by gas falling onto the young star, which is surrounded by a disc of dust and gas. If the disc is the fuel tank, the star is the gravitational engine, and the jets are the exhaust.

In Hubble’s image of HH 110, one such turbulent streamer of gas can clearly be seen streaking across the frame.

The intricate structures within HH 110 and other Herbig–Haro objects exist because the jets are not being blown through a pure vacuum. When the energetic and fast-moving Herbig–Haro jets slam into colder gas, they form shock fronts that look and behave much like the bow waves that form in front of a boat. These so-called bow shocks, which glow thanks to very high temperatures, are a distinctive feature of Herbig-Haro objects.

http://spacetelescope.org/news/heic1210/

And no, they aren't talking about Limbaugh.

[leveymg]

1. Birth of a solar system?

[Surya Gayatri]

2. Love your space posts, n2doc...spectacular!

[micraphone]

3. And no, they aren't talking about Limbaugh

LOL I love it....


Have discovered a new Gas Giant!

Send Bruce Willis Willis immediatley to destroy Asteroid Limbaugh! He's heading our way....

(Cue big song from Aerosmith)

Gas is VERY hot and needs big nuke!