An international team of astronomers have been able to image an outburst from a star thought to be in its earliest phase of development. Using both ground-based and space telescopes, the incredible images of the star’s outburst can clearly be seen.
The young protostar, known as HOPS 383, is in the Class 0 phase. This phase usually lasts around 150,000 years and is considered the earliest developmental stage for Sun-like stars. The star itself is located close to the nebula NGC 1977, found in the constellation of Orion. It was first discovered in 2014 by astronomer Emily Safron, who initial saw it just as a “funny object”. After closer inspection it quickly became clear that this was more than what she could have ever expected.
But what is a protostar, I hear you ask? Well, a protostar is a star that has yet to have developed energy generating capabilities, such as the fusion of hydrogen and helium in its core. The outburst we see in the image above is believed to be a huge ‘growth spurt’, with matter gathering and contracting under the star’s gravity, causing a heat up at its center.
The young protostar, known as HOPS 383, is in the Class 0 phase. This phase usually lasts around 150,000 years and is considered the earliest developmental stage for Sun-like stars. The star itself is located close to the nebula NGC 1977, found in the constellation of Orion. It was first discovered in 2014 by astronomer Emily Safron, who initial saw it just as a “funny object”. After closer inspection it quickly became clear that this was more than what she could have ever expected.
But what is a protostar, I hear you ask? Well, a protostar is a star that has yet to have developed energy generating capabilities, such as the fusion of hydrogen and helium in its core. The outburst we see in the image above is believed to be a huge ‘growth spurt’, with matter gathering and contracting under the star’s gravity, causing a heat up at its center.