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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Cosmic butterfly

Cosmic butterfly
Cosmic butterfly What looks to be a butterfly in space is actually a planet-forming disk surrounding a star, in this image created from data captured by the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS). Officially known as IRAS 23077 and located about 1,000 light-years from Earth, astronomers believe the butterfly may be the largest planet-forming disk ever observed. It has enough dust and gas to form planets out to distances 300 times farther than the distance between our Sun and Jupiter. Radio: SAO/ASIAA/SMA/K. Monsch et al; Optical: Pan-STARRS