Photo: Supersonic "Hail" Seeds Star Systems With Water

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


An embryonic star and its dusty planet-forming disk are showered with material—including hail-like water ice—in this artist's conception.

New data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope suggest that water ice "rains" on the disk at supersonic speeds and vaporizes when it hits. The find offers the first direct look at how water likely gets incorporated into planets.

Image courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech

MOST VIEWED NEWS

PICTURES: 2012 Doomsday Myths Debunked

2012: Six End-of-the-World Myths Debunked

APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.