Free Astronomy Magazine July-August 2016

SPACE CHRONICLES This system closely resembles what astronomers think the Solar System looked like during its formation more than four billion years ago. The Atacama Large Millimeter/Sub- millimeter Array (ALMA) is the most powerful observatory in existence for mapping the chemical composi- First detection of methyl alcohol in a planet-forming disc T he organic molecule methyl al- cohol (methanol) has been found by the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (AL- MA) in the TW Hydrae protoplane- tary disc. This is the first such detec- tion of the compound in a young planet-forming disc. Methanol is the only complex organic molecule as yet detected in discs that unambig- uously derives from an icy form. Its detection helps astronomers under- stand the chemical processes that occur during the formation of plane- tary systems and that ultimately lead to the creation of the ingredients for life. The protoplanetary disc around the young star TW Hydrae is the closest known example to Earth, at a distance of only about 170 light- years. As such it is an ideal target for astronomers to study discs. by ESO T his artist’s impression shows the closest known protoplane- tary disc, around the star TW Hy- drae in the huge constellation of Hydra (The Female Watersnake). The organic molecule methyl alco- hol (methanol) has been found by the Atacama Large Millimeter/Sub- millimeter Array (ALMA) in this disc. This is the first such detection of the compound in a young planet- forming disc. [ESO/M. Kornmesser]