Seven Stars from One Dough ⚡ экспресс
A system of seven protostars embedded in a Keplerian disk was discovered in the massive star-forming region NGC 6334IN. The separations between components range from 181 to 461 AU. Stability analysis shows that the disk is dynamically unstable, indicating the system formed via gravitational fragmentation. Previously, no more than 2–3 fragmented companions were found in similar disks in both low- and high-mass star-forming regions. This discovery serves as compelling observational evidence that fragmentation of a gravitationally unstable disk is a viable mechanism for the formation of extremely high-multiplicity systems, which had previously existed only as a theoretical concept. The results shed new light on the formation of such systems in stellar clusters.
In the nebula NGC 6334I, astronomers spotted seven stellar embryos in a single rotating gas and dust disk at distances of 181–461 Earth-Sun distances. This is a record: previously, such disks were known to host no more than two or three.
Such a mechanism was considered common for binary systems, but not for seven. Now it’s clear that nature can "bake" a whole family of stars at once.
🎯 Most stars live not alone, but in pairs or trios. But finding seven in one disk is like baking seven buns from one piece of dough. Astronomers saw such a tight neighborhood for the first time.
🎬 Science fiction loves worlds with multiple suns, like Tatooine or Pandora. The discovery shows that nature can light up seven suns at once in one system, bringing the boldest fantasies to life.