There are hundreds of young large stars and thousands of small stars in the star cluster called Cygnus OB2 (Cygnus OB2), located approximately 4,600 light-years away from Earth. formation of planets. OB type stars are massive hot stars of white-blue or blue color that form gravitationally unbound or weakly bound groups of stars called OB corps. They are believed to have a common origin originating from a massive molecular cloud and are no more than a few million years old.

Here are the authors of a new study published in the journal Astrophysical Journaldiscovered so-called danger zones, which are regions near massive young stars whose radiation interferes with the formation of planets and even does so. impossible

This is the conclusion of a team of astronomers led by Mario Guarchello (Mario Guarcello) from the National Institute of Astrophysics (Italy) reached by analyzing data of long-term observations obtained with the help of the space X-ray observatory “Chandra” and the decommissioned infrared telescope.

Because the observed star cluster contains luminaries both with and without protoplanetary disks, the researchers examined their spatial distribution and found that radiation from massive stars (and intense ultraviolet radiation from smaller luminaires) significantly accelerated the destruction of protoplanetary disks. Astronomers then combined observation data to create a detailed mosaic of the region.

This approach aims to find young stars in the cluster and regions of intense radiation, and where the high-energy radiation of massive young stars leads to the rapid evaporation of protoplanetary disks in nearby luminaries, thereby inhibiting or even preventing the formation of planets.

Scientists also found that in regions with less massive stars (and thus lower levels of high-energy radiation), about 40 percent of young stars have protoplanetary disks. . At the same time, the number of luminaires with protoplanetary disks is increasing in the most densely populated areas. fell to one percent.

Note that star formation in the Milky Way occurs in different environments, and a significant part of the luminaries are formed in clusters with massive stars of types O and B. The fact is that these luminaries significantly affect the evolution of both protoplanetary disks. around nearby young stars and in planet formation processes. While conditions are favorable for the formation of planetary systems in calmer regions of our galaxy, regions near massive stars have become “danger zones” where the probability of planet formation is significantly reduced.

The results of the new study help uncover the mechanisms that influence the evolution of protoplanetary disks and are important for understanding the overall picture of planet and star formation. According to the authors of the scientific paper, further observations will allow to clarify which processes dominate in different environments and how they interact with each other.