Astronomers studying the formation of a distant star have discovered a cloud of water in space. Both normal water that we know from Earth and water, which is heavy water in which one of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced by deuterium, may offer new insights into the origins of water in our solar system.
The discovery is also intriguing because for the first time, astronomers have been able to measure the composition of water in a protoplanetary disk. The disk of material is located about 1,300 light-years away in the constellation of Orion, called V883 Orion. The water cloud that astronomers found in space tells us more about the origin of water in our solar system, as well as about star formation.
According to the researchers working on the new paper, being able to measure the amount of water in the protoplanetary disk will eventually help us fill in the gaps between the protostar stage and comets, which are remnants of planet formation. This is an intriguing finding that will undoubtedly help us take our study of star and planet formation to a new level.
In most cases, the water found in space is usually found in the form of water ice. This type of water is often found on comets and even planets orbiting in asteroid belts and fields. In fact, many people believe that the water on Earth originated from comets. So where do comets get their water from? The discovery of this water cloud in space could give us that answer.
This is because comets are often made up of leftover material used to form planets. Planets similar to those that would form in this protoplanetary disk. So the concentration of water found in this particular disk could answer some questions about how some comets get such high concentrations of water ice on them. Additionally, it is important to understand how the water cloud interacts with the rest of the disk.
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) made this discovery possible. Located in Chile, this large radio telescope can detect chemical signatures in protoplanetary disks that allow it to detect the water cloud in V883 Orionis. Source
Source: Port Altele
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