SPHERE gallery of debris disks, visible by the starlight they reflect, with the central star blocked out. (IMAGE)

Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

SPHERE gallery of debris disks, visible by the starlight they reflect, with the central star blocked out.

Caption

This image presents a grid of colour-enhanced astronomical observations, each depicting a circumstellar disc—structures of dust and gas surrounding stars. Every square in the grid represents a different star system, identified by catalogue names such as “HD 105”, “HD 377”, or “TWA 25”. The discs vary widely in shape, size, and orientation: some appear as well-defined rings, while others show elongated or irregular forms. The colour palette, dominated by purples and oranges, highlights brightness and contrast to reveal structural details. This visual diversity reflects different physical properties and evolutionary stages of the star systems, offering valuable insights into planetary formation and stellar development.

Credit

N. Engler et al./SPHERE Consortium/ESO

Usage Restrictions

Credit must be given to the creator. Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.

License

CC BY-SA

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