Artist’s impression of a young star surrounded by a protoplanetary disc

This is an artist’s impression of a young star surrounded by a protoplanetary disc in which planets are forming. Using ALMA’s 15-kilometre baseline astronomers were able to make the first detailed image of a protoplanetary disc, which revealed the complex structure of the disc. Concentric rings of gas, with gaps indicating planet formation, are visible in this artist’s impression and were predicted by computer simulations.

Image Credit: ESO/L. Calçada
Explanation from: https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1436f/