ALMA Large Program of Observing Birth Environments of Planets
ALMA Large Program of Observing Birth Environments of Planets
The results of ALMA Large Program, “Molecules with ALMA at Planet-forming Scales (MAPS)” to detect radio waves emitted by molecules in protoplanetary disks around five young stars were press released. The program infers the distribution of about 20 molecules in the disks with high spatial resolution.
Distribution of deuterated molecules, molecules containing heavy brother of hydrogen, were revealed as a part of the program. Deuterium ratio of water is thought to be a clue to understand the origin of Earth ocean. The results show that deuterium exchange reactions proceed efficiently both in cold and warm environments in the protoplanetary disks.
ALMA press release
https://alma-telescope.jp/en/n
Figure caption:
ALMA images of emission from molecules in the protoplanetary disks around young stars AS 209 and HD 163296.
Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), Cataldi et al./Aikawa et al.