In Cosmic First, Scientists Spy a Star's Snow Line

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In summary, astronomers have recently observed the water snow line around a young star for the first time. This boundary, where snow and ice first appear in the star's orbiting disk, is typically too close to the star to be seen. However, a temporary burst of brightness allowed researchers to capture this elusive phenomenon. The discovery is significant as it sheds light on the formation of planets around young stars, with the rocky section forming Earth-like planets and the snowy outskirts giving rise to gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn.
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http://www.space.com/33410-star-snow-line-seen-for-first-time.html

From there,

For the first time, astronomers have caught a glimpse of the water snow line around a star — the point in the young star's orbiting disk of debris where snow and ice first appear.

Normally, that boundary huddles too close to the star for astronomers to see it, but this particular star had a sudden burst of brightness that superheated its disk, obliterating ice further out than usual.

Researchers are excited to spot their first stellar snow line because of the vital part it plays in the formation of planets around young stars: The rocky section forms planets like Earth and Mars, while the snowy outskirts sprout gaseous worlds like Jupiter and Saturn. [ALMA: 8 Cool Facts About a Giant Radio Telescope] ...

...An artist's illustration shows the water snow line spotted around the young star V883 Orionis — the delineation between where the hot star vaporizes all water, leaving rocky dust and debris, and where ice and snow exist in the disk.

v883-orionis-snow-line-illustration.jpg
 
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Amazing news, thanks for sharing it!
 

1. What is a star's snow line?

A star's snow line is the distance from the star where the temperature is low enough for water to freeze into solid ice. Beyond this point, water exists as ice rather than gas.

2. Why is the discovery of a star's snow line significant?

The discovery of a star's snow line is significant because it gives scientists a better understanding of how planets form around stars. The presence of a snow line affects the composition and location of planets in a star's system.

3. How did scientists spy a star's snow line?

Scientists used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope to detect the presence of methanol molecules in the disk of gas and dust surrounding the star. Methanol is usually found in the gas phase, but its presence at the snow line indicates that it has frozen onto dust particles, providing evidence of the snow line's location.

4. What other types of molecules can be used to detect a star's snow line?

In addition to methanol, molecules such as carbon monoxide, water vapor, and ammonia can also be used to detect a star's snow line. These molecules have different freezing points, so their presence at different distances from the star can help scientists determine the location of the snow line.

5. What implications does the discovery of a star's snow line have for the search for habitable planets?

The discovery of a star's snow line can help scientists identify which planets in a star's system have the potential for liquid water on their surface. Planets located within the snow line are more likely to have water in the form of ice, while planets beyond the snow line may have liquid water on their surface. This information can aid in the search for habitable planets outside of our solar system.

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