Free Astronomy Magazine March-April 2023

MARCH-APRIL 2023 whose movement is dictated by the interplay between the star’s mag- netic field and gases present in its surrounding disk. “Our previous understanding of MWC 349A was that the star was surrounded by a rotating disk and photo-evaporating wind. Strong evidence for an additional colli- mated jet had not yet been seen in this system. Although we don’t yet know for certain where it comes from or how it is made, it could be that a magnetohydrodynamic wind is producing the jet, in which case the magnetic field is responsible for launching rotating material from the system,” said Prasad. “This could help us to better understand the disk-wind dynamics of MWC 349A, and the interplay between circum- stellar disks, winds, and jets in other star systems.” T his artist’s conception shows a zoomed in view of MWC 349A and its surrounding disk of gas and dust that are being shaped by the winds and high-speed jet. [ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), M. Weiss (NRAO/ AUI/NSF)] !