Stellar System Disintegration in the Orion Nebula (IMAGE)

Penn State

Stellar System Disintegration in the Orion Nebula

Caption

This three-frame illustration shows how a grouping of stars can break apart, flinging the members into space. The first panel shows four members of a multiple-star system orbiting each other. In the second panel, two of the stars move closer together in their orbits. In the third panel, the closely orbiting stars eventually either merge or form a tight binary. This event releases enough gravitational energy to propel all of the stars in the system outward, as shown in the third panel.

Credit

NASA, ESA, and Z. Levy (STScI)

Usage Restrictions

The image credit must be published along with the image.

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.