TW Hydrae

TW Hydrae is a T Tauri star located approximately 176 light-years away in the constellation of Hydra. It is one of the nearest known star-forming regions to the Earth. TW Hydrae is particularly notable for its large protoplanetary disk, which has been the subject of intensive study as it is likely to be in the process of forming planets.

Characteristics

TW Hydrae is a young star, with an estimated age of between 5 and 10 million years. It has a mass similar to that of the Sun, but is significantly larger in size due to its young age and the fact that it is still contracting. The star is surrounded by a large protoplanetary disk, which extends out to a distance of about 200 astronomical units (AU) from the star. This disk is composed of gas and dust, and is likely the site of ongoing planet formation.

Planet Formation

The protoplanetary disk around TW Hydrae has been the subject of numerous studies aimed at understanding the process of planet formation. Observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have revealed a series of concentric gaps in the disk, which are thought to be caused by the gravitational influence of newly formed planets. These observations provide valuable insights into the early stages of planetary system formation.

Observations and Studies

TW Hydrae is a popular target for astronomers due to its proximity to Earth and its large protoplanetary disk. It has been observed with a variety of telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope, and ALMA. These observations have provided a wealth of information about the star and its disk, and have made TW Hydrae one of the best-studied examples of a young star with a protoplanetary disk.

See Also

• Protoplanetary disk
• Planet formation
• T Tauri star
• Hydra (constellation)