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September 14, 2021

Rotating gas core collapsing and forming a central star

This still from a STARFORGE Project simulation depicts a rotating gas core collapsing and forming a central star that launches bipolar jets along its poles as it feeds on gas from the surrounding disk. The jets entrain gas away from the core, limiting the amount that the star can ultimately accrete.

[Research supported by U.S. National Science Foundation grants AST 1715216 and AST 1652522.]

Learn more in the Northwestern University news story Stunning simulation of stars being born is most realistic ever. (Date image taken: unknown; date originally posted to NSF Multimedia Gallery: Sept. 14, 2021)

Credit: Northwestern University/UT Austin


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