2003/05/27 by Jacco Th. van Loon, J. Th. van Loon, J. M. Oliveira +1
Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Educational Leadership and Practices #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20030811
published as Astron.Astrophys.405:L33,2003 · Accepted for publication in A&A Letters: 4 pages, 3 figures
arxiv created 2003/05/27 · openalex publication_date 2003/06/30 · arxiv updated 2011/05/23 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
We report on the discovery of a mid-infrared source at a projected distance of only 1200 AU from the O9.5 V star σ Orionis. The spatially resolved, fan-shaped morphology and the presence of an ionization front, as well as evidence in the spectrum for processed dust grains, all suggest that it is a proto-planetary disk being dispersed by the intense ultraviolet radiation from σ Orionis. We compute the mass budget and the photo-evaporation timescale, and discuss the possible nature of this remarkable object.