{
    "id": 10986,
    "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10986/",
    "page_type": "Produced Video",
    "title": "A Star's Spiral",
    "description": "NASA-supported researchers using a Japanese telescope in Hawaii have taken the first clear image of a rare sight: a star surrounded by a spiral-armed disk. Telescope images have shown hints of stars with spiral disks before. The clarity of this new image, however, is allowing researchers to study what causes this kind of spiral. Rings called circumstellar disks—composed of gas, dust and an accumulation of small objects—surround some stars. If the ring contains planets, their gravitational pull could alter its circular form and create the spiral arms. These videos take a closer look at the new image of star SAO 206462 and raise the question of whether orbiting planets, or something else entirely, created this curious shape. || ",
    "release_date": "2012-06-26T00:00:00-04:00",
    "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:52:59.196552-04:00",
    "main_image": {
        "id": 476222,
        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_1280x720.jpg",
        "filename": "597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_1280x720.jpg",
        "media_type": "Image",
        "alt_text": "What created the unusual spiral arms surrounding this star?",
        "width": 1280,
        "height": 720,
        "pixels": 921600
    },
    "main_video": null,
    "main_credits": {
        "Written by": [
            {
                "name": "Tony Phillips",
                "employer": "Wyle Information Systems"
            },
            {
                "name": "Francis Reddy",
                "employer": "SPSYS"
            }
        ]
    },
    "progress": "Complete",
    "media_groups": [
        {
            "id": 348914,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10986/#media_group_348914",
            "widget": "Basic text with HTML",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "NASA-supported researchers using a Japanese telescope in Hawaii have taken the first clear image of a rare sight: a star surrounded by a spiral-armed disk. Telescope images have shown hints of stars with spiral disks before. The clarity of this new image, however, is allowing researchers to study what causes this kind of spiral. Rings called circumstellar disks—composed of gas, dust and an accumulation of small objects—surround some stars. If the ring contains planets, their gravitational pull could alter its circular form and create the spiral arms. These videos take a closer look at the new image of star SAO 206462 and raise the question of whether orbiting planets, or something else entirely, created this curious shape.",
            "items": [],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 348915,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10986/#media_group_348915",
            "widget": "Single image",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "What created the unusual spiral arms surrounding this star?",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 319817,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476221,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_1024x576.jpg",
                        "filename": "597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_1024x576.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "What created the unusual spiral arms surrounding this star?",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319818,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476222,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_1280x720.jpg",
                        "filename": "597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_1280x720.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "What created the unusual spiral arms surrounding this star?",
                        "width": 1280,
                        "height": 720,
                        "pixels": 921600
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319820,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476224,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_web.png",
                        "filename": "597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_web.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "What created the unusual spiral arms surrounding this star?",
                        "width": 320,
                        "height": 180,
                        "pixels": 57600
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319821,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476225,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_1280x720_thm.png",
                        "filename": "597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_1280x720_thm.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "What created the unusual spiral arms surrounding this star?",
                        "width": 80,
                        "height": 40,
                        "pixels": 3200
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319819,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476223,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_1920x1080.tif",
                        "filename": "597027main_SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_1920x1080.tif",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "What created the unusual spiral arms surrounding this star?",
                        "width": 1920,
                        "height": 1080,
                        "pixels": 2073600
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 348916,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10986/#media_group_348916",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "The asymmetric nature of the arms in the image of star SAO 206462 could mean that the disk contains at least two planets.",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 319822,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476228,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/SpriralArmsScience@NASA_1024x576.jpg",
                        "filename": "SpriralArmsScience@NASA_1024x576.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "The asymmetric nature of the arms in the image of star SAO 206462 could mean that the disk contains at least two planets.",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319824,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476227,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/SpriralArms_854x480-MASTER_high.mp4",
                        "filename": "SpriralArms_854x480-MASTER_high.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "The asymmetric nature of the arms in the image of star SAO 206462 could mean that the disk contains at least two planets.",
                        "width": 960,
                        "height": 540,
                        "pixels": 518400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319825,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476229,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/SpriralArms_854x480-MASTER_high.webmhd.webm",
                        "filename": "SpriralArms_854x480-MASTER_high.webmhd.webm",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "The asymmetric nature of the arms in the image of star SAO 206462 could mean that the disk contains at least two planets.",
                        "width": 960,
                        "height": 540,
                        "pixels": 518400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319823,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 853970,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/a010986_a010916_iPad_movie_SpriralArms_854x480-MASTER/SpriralArms_854x480-MASTER.m3u8",
                        "filename": "SpriralArms_854x480-MASTER.m3u8",
                        "media_type": "File",
                        "alt_text": "The asymmetric nature of the arms in the image of star SAO 206462 could mean that the disk contains at least two planets."
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 348917,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10986/#media_group_348917",
            "widget": "Video player",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "This video compares a visualization of a planet-forming star from the NCSA Advanced Visualization Lab to the new image of SAO 206462.",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 319826,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476230,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/Planetary_Disk_Still_1024x576.jpg",
                        "filename": "Planetary_Disk_Still_1024x576.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "This video compares a visualization of a planet-forming star from the NCSA Advanced Visualization Lab to the new image of SAO 206462.",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319827,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476231,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/Planetary_Disk_Still_1jpg.jpg",
                        "filename": "Planetary_Disk_Still_1jpg.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "This video compares a visualization of a planet-forming star from the NCSA Advanced Visualization Lab to the new image of SAO 206462.",
                        "width": 1280,
                        "height": 720,
                        "pixels": 921600
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319829,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476233,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/G2011-112_Planetary_Disk_540_MASTER_high.mp4",
                        "filename": "G2011-112_Planetary_Disk_540_MASTER_high.mp4",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "This video compares a visualization of a planet-forming star from the NCSA Advanced Visualization Lab to the new image of SAO 206462.",
                        "width": 960,
                        "height": 540,
                        "pixels": 518400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319830,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476234,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/G2011-112_Planetary_Disk_540_MASTER_high.webmhd.webm",
                        "filename": "G2011-112_Planetary_Disk_540_MASTER_high.webmhd.webm",
                        "media_type": "Movie",
                        "alt_text": "This video compares a visualization of a planet-forming star from the NCSA Advanced Visualization Lab to the new image of SAO 206462.",
                        "width": 960,
                        "height": 540,
                        "pixels": 518400
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319828,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 853971,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/a010986_iPad_movie_G2011-112_Planetary_Disk_540_MASTER/G2011-112_Planetary_Disk_540_MASTER.m3u8",
                        "filename": "G2011-112_Planetary_Disk_540_MASTER.m3u8",
                        "media_type": "File",
                        "alt_text": "This video compares a visualization of a planet-forming star from the NCSA Advanced Visualization Lab to the new image of SAO 206462."
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 348918,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10986/#media_group_348918",
            "widget": "Single image",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "Two spiral arms emerge from SAO 206462's circumstellar disk, which stretches 14 billion miles across, about twice the size of Pluto's orbit.",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 319831,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476235,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597023main_SAO206462_dust_arms_labels_1024x576.jpg",
                        "filename": "597023main_SAO206462_dust_arms_labels_1024x576.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Two spiral arms emerge from SAO 206462's circumstellar disk, which stretches 14 billion miles across, about twice the size of Pluto's orbit.",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319835,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476239,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597023main_SAO206462_dust_arms_labels_1280x720.jpg",
                        "filename": "597023main_SAO206462_dust_arms_labels_1280x720.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Two spiral arms emerge from SAO 206462's circumstellar disk, which stretches 14 billion miles across, about twice the size of Pluto's orbit.",
                        "width": 1280,
                        "height": 720,
                        "pixels": 921600
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319834,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476238,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597023main_SAO206462_dust_arms_labels_1024x576_web.png",
                        "filename": "597023main_SAO206462_dust_arms_labels_1024x576_web.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Two spiral arms emerge from SAO 206462's circumstellar disk, which stretches 14 billion miles across, about twice the size of Pluto's orbit.",
                        "width": 320,
                        "height": 180,
                        "pixels": 57600
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319832,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476236,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597023main_SAO206462_dust_arms_labels_1280x720.tif",
                        "filename": "597023main_SAO206462_dust_arms_labels_1280x720.tif",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Two spiral arms emerge from SAO 206462's circumstellar disk, which stretches 14 billion miles across, about twice the size of Pluto's orbit.",
                        "width": 1280,
                        "height": 720,
                        "pixels": 921600
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319833,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476237,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/597023main_SAO206462_dust_arms_labels_1920x1080.tif",
                        "filename": "597023main_SAO206462_dust_arms_labels_1920x1080.tif",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "Two spiral arms emerge from SAO 206462's circumstellar disk, which stretches 14 billion miles across, about twice the size of Pluto's orbit.",
                        "width": 1920,
                        "height": 1080,
                        "pixels": 2073600
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 348919,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10986/#media_group_348919",
            "widget": "Single image",
            "title": "",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "The Subaru Telescope (center) on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, was used to spot SAO 206462.",
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": 319836,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476241,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/subarutele_1024x576.jpg",
                        "filename": "subarutele_1024x576.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "The Subaru Telescope (center) on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, was used to spot SAO 206462.",
                        "width": 1024,
                        "height": 576,
                        "pixels": 589824
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319837,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476242,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/subarutele_1280x720.jpg",
                        "filename": "subarutele_1280x720.jpg",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "The Subaru Telescope (center) on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, was used to spot SAO 206462.",
                        "width": 1280,
                        "height": 720,
                        "pixels": 921600
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319839,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476240,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/subarutele_1024x576_web.png",
                        "filename": "subarutele_1024x576_web.png",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "The Subaru Telescope (center) on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, was used to spot SAO 206462.",
                        "width": 320,
                        "height": 180,
                        "pixels": 57600
                    }
                },
                {
                    "id": 319838,
                    "type": "media",
                    "extra_data": null,
                    "title": null,
                    "caption": null,
                    "instance": {
                        "id": 476243,
                        "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010900/a010986/subarutele_1920x1080.tif",
                        "filename": "subarutele_1920x1080.tif",
                        "media_type": "Image",
                        "alt_text": "The Subaru Telescope (center) on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, was used to spot SAO 206462.",
                        "width": 1920,
                        "height": 1080,
                        "pixels": 2073600
                    }
                }
            ],
            "extra_data": {}
        },
        {
            "id": 348920,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10986/#media_group_348920",
            "widget": "Basic text",
            "title": "For More Information",
            "caption": "",
            "description": "See [Science@NASA](http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/31oct_spiralarms/)",
            "items": [],
            "extra_data": {}
        }
    ],
    "studio": "gms",
    "funding_sources": [
        "PAO"
    ],
    "credits": [
        {
            "role": "Animator",
            "people": [
                {
                    "name": "Donna Cox",
                    "employer": "AVL NCSA/University of Illinois"
                },
                {
                    "name": "AJ Christensen",
                    "employer": "AVL NCSA/University of Illinois"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Matthew Hall",
                    "employer": "AVL NCSA/University of Illinois"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Alex Betts",
                    "employer": "AVL NCSA/University of Illinois"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Stuart Levy",
                    "employer": "AVL NCSA/University of Illinois"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Robert Patterson",
                    "employer": "AVL NCSA/University of Illinois"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "role": "Producer",
            "people": [
                {
                    "name": "Tony Phillips",
                    "employer": "Wyle Information Systems"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Scott Wiessinger",
                    "employer": "USRA"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "role": "Writer",
            "people": [
                {
                    "name": "Tony Phillips",
                    "employer": "Wyle Information Systems"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Francis Reddy",
                    "employer": "SPSYS"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "missions": [],
    "series": [],
    "tapes": [],
    "papers": [],
    "datasets": [],
    "nasa_science_categories": [
        "Universe"
    ],
    "keywords": [
        "App",
        "Ast",
        "Astrophysics"
    ],
    "recommended_pages": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "id": 11015,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11015/",
            "page_type": "Produced Video",
            "title": "Data Gazing",
            "description": "A year ago today we launched NASA Visualization Explorer, an app designed to deliver captivating illustrations grounded in data gathered by cutting-edge NASA spacecraft. After producing more than 100 stories our goal remains the same: Put the science first and let data visualization bring into focus the natural events and changes taking place on Earth and beyond. But sometimes we just want to sit back, take in the amazing images and let our minds wander. This is one of those moments. The video highlights some of the best illustrations from this year's stories. As for what's coming out in year two—keep looking. You never know what you'll see. || ",
            "release_date": "2012-07-26T00:00:00-04:00",
            "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:52:53.222945-04:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 473843,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011000/a011015/Mosaic_1024x576.jpg",
                "filename": "Mosaic_1024x576.jpg",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "Exploring the universe bit by bit.",
                "width": 1024,
                "height": 576,
                "pixels": 589824
            }
        },
        {
            "id": 10847,
            "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10847/",
            "page_type": "Produced Video",
            "title": "Spiral Arms Point to Possible Planets in a Star's Dusty Disk",
            "description": "A new image of the disk of gas and dust around a sun-like star is the first to show spiral-arm-like structures. These features may provide clues to the presence of embedded but as-yet-unseen planets.The newly imaged disk surrounds SAO 206462, an 8.7-magnitude star located about 456 light-years away in the constellation Lupus. Astronomers estimate that the system is only about 9 million years old. The gas-rich disk spans some 14 billion miles, which is more than twice the size of Pluto's orbit in our own solar system. The Subaru near-infrared image reveals a pair of spiral features arcing along the outer disk. Theoretical models show that a single embedded planet may produce a spiral arm on each side of a disk. The structures around SAO 206462 do not form a matched pair, suggesting the presence of two unseen worlds, one for each arm. || ",
            "release_date": "2011-10-19T09:30:00-04:00",
            "update_date": "2025-01-05T00:16:53.971708-05:00",
            "main_image": {
                "id": 482850,
                "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010800/a010847/SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_Small.jpg",
                "filename": "SAO206462_dust_arms_nolabels_Small.jpg",
                "media_type": "Image",
                "alt_text": "Two spiral arms emerge from the gas-rich disk around SAO 206462, a young star in the constellation Lupus. This image, acquired by the Subaru Telescope and its HiCIAO instrument, is the first to show spiral arms in a circumstellar disk. The disk itself is some 14 billion miles across, or about twice the size of Pluto's orbit in our own solar system. No Labels. Credit: NAOJ/Subaru",
                "width": 1500,
                "height": 1163,
                "pixels": 1744500
            }
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "products": [],
    "newer_versions": [],
    "older_versions": [],
    "alternate_versions": []
}