Are planets common in our galaxy? Strong evidence that the answer is “yes” was provided in this 1994 image made by the Hubble Space Telescope . A close-up of the Orion Nebulae , it reveals what seem to be disks of dust and gas surrounding newly formed stars. These fuzzy blobs, called “ proplyds ”, appear to be infant solar systems in the process of formation . Of the five stars in this field which spans about 0.14 light years, four appear to have associated proplyds - three bright ones and one dark one seen in silhouette against the bright nebula. A more complete survey of 110 stars in the region found 56 with proplyds. If extra-solar planetary systems are common place, are there extra-terrestrial civilizations out there as well?
17 October 1996
Proplyds: Infant Solar Systems?
