Previous Tape   Next Tape

Goddard TV Video Tape: G2014-021 -- Crashing Comets Hint at Hidden World


Movie

Title

This artist's concept illustrates the preferred model for explaining ALMA observations of Beta Pictoris. At the outer fringes of the system, the gravitational influence of a hypothetical giant planet (bottom left) captures comets into a dense, massive swarm (right) where frequent collisions occur. The one planet known in the system, Beta Pictoris b, is shown near the star.  Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/F. Reddy Beta Pictoris: Icy Debris Suggests 'Shepherd' Planet