Largest X-ray Survey of Star-forming Regions
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Text, News from the Universe June 28 2021
Largest X-ray Survey of Star-forming Regions June 28 2021
How do strong flares from young stars affect potential planets orbiting them?
To explore this question, scientists conducted the largest-ever X-ray survey of star-forming regions, studying more than 24,000 stars.
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NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory showed that strong flares occurred in all 40 star-forming regions studied.
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Results showed that the strongest flares were similar to those seen on the Sun, but magnified in energy and frequency.
If planets have already formed around a young star, the radiation from a strong flare could strip away their atmosphere.
However, a flare from a still-forming star can blast through it's dusty disk, triggering "pebble" formation that can lead to planets.
While studying distant planetary systems, scientists also hope for insight on the past relationship between the Sun and Earth, the only known home to life.
This news was brought to you in part by the Chandra X-ray Center in Cambridge, MA