Seven Stars from One Dough ⚡ экспресс
Astronomers have observationally confirmed for the first time that a system of seven protostars can form through fragmentation of a gas-dust disk. In the NGC 6334IN region, a disk with seven stellar embryos was found at distances of 181–461 AU (like from the Sun to Neptune). Gravitational instability of the disk led to its breakup into separate clumps—a mechanism previously only hypothetical for such high-multiplicity systems. The discovery sheds light on the birth of large stellar families in dense 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.