Title
Massive collision of objects
Caption
Artist concept showing a massive collision of objects perhaps as large as the planet Pluto smashed together to create the dust ring around the nearby star Vega. New observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope indicate the collision took place within the last one million years. Astronomers think that embryonic planets smashed together, shattered into pieces, and repeatedly crashed into other fragments to create ever finer debris. In the image, a collision is seen between massive objects that measured up to 2,000 kilometres (about 1,200 miles) in diameter.
Date
21th century
Credit line
Photo12/Ann Ronan Picture Library
Reference
ARP15A02_203
License type
Rights managed
Available size
52,7Mb (1,5Mb) / 16,0in x 12,8in / 4800 x 3840 (300dpi)