Source: Voice of America

Hubble Spots 'Cosmic Caterpillar'

VOA News
August 30, 2013

The Hubble space telescope has spotted what astronomers are calling a “cosmic caterpillar.”

The object, called IRAS 20324+4057, is actually a light-year-long knot of interstellar gas and dust scientists call a “protostar.” They said the object is “in a very early evolutionary stage.”

According to the Hubble website, harsh winds from extremely bright stars are blasting ultraviolet radiation and sculpting the gas and dust into the long shape.

Those bright stars are 65 of the hottest known to exist, classified as O-type stars. They are located 15 light-years away from IRAS 20324+4057, toward the right edge of the image.


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