Direct infrared image of an arm in disk demonstrates transition
to planet formation The image shows the dynamic environment in
which planets may be born and gives information about
constraints on the distance at which planets can form from a
central star. February 8, 2013 An international team of
astronomers led by Satoshi Mayama from the Graduate University
for Advanced Studies in Japan and Ruobing Dong from Princeton
University in New Jersey has made observations with the Subaru
Telescope and captured the first vivid infrared image of a
curved arm of dust extending over a hole on a disk around a
young star — 2MASS J16042165-2130284 (J1604). This feature
indicates the probable existence of unseen planets within the
hole. The image shows the dynamic environment in which planets
may be born and gives information about constraints on the
distance at which planets can form from a central star. Subaru
Telescope's near-infrared image of the protoplanetary disk
around the young star J 1604. A black circular mask co