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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

JWST spots a planetary debris disk

JWST spots a planetary debris disk
JWST spots a planetary debris disk These two images, captured in different wavelengths of light, show the debris disk around AU Mic, a red dwarf star located 32 light-years away. JWST used its coronagraph to block the intense light of the central star. The star is marked by a white, graphical representation at the center of each image. The region blocked by the coronagraph is shown by a dashed circle. The star has two known planets; the debris disk is the result of collisions between leftover planet-forming materials. Science: NASA, ESA, CSA, Kellen Lawson (NASA-GSFC), Joshua E. Schlieder (NASA-GSFC). Image processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)