Cosmic Butterfly: Unlabeled Pan-STARRS and SMA image with SMA image inset

The inset for this image shows compelling evidence that IRAS 23077 contains a planet-forming disk. Along with dust grains, the SMA can also observe the cold carbon monoxide gas that comprises the bulk of a planet-forming disk. By measuring its velocity structure and dividing this into "blue-shifted" and "red-shifted" components showing material moving towards us and away from us respectively, the team showed that the gas is rotating around the central star, as expected for a planet-forming disk.