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Ice Formation in a Protoplanetary Disk

In this animation we fly into a protoplanetary disk surrounding a young star. Within the disk, tiny dust grains accumulate layers of ice over thousands of years. These cosmic snowflakes are swept up by forming planets, delivering key ingredients for life.
  • Release Date
    March 9, 2018
  • Science Release
    NASA’s Webb Telescope to Make a Splash in Search for Interstellar Water
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Video: NASA, NASA-JPL, Robert Hurt (Caltech)

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Related Images & Videos

A wispy blue-white cloud on a background of stars.

Reflection Nebula IC 2631 (ESO)

An image from the European Southern Observatory shows blue light from a newborn star lights up the reflection nebula IC 2631. This nebula is part of the Chamaeleon star-forming region, which Webb will study to learn more about the formation of water and other cosmic ices.

A simulated spectrum from the Webb telescope illustrates the molecules that may be detected in star-forming regions like the Eagle Nebula. It shows a spectrum plotted on a graph of brightness of light on the vertical y-axis versus wavelength of light in microns on the horizontal x-axis.

Webb Telescope Simulated Spectrum

This simulated spectrum from the Webb telescope illustrates the kinds of molecules that may be detected in star-forming regions like the Eagle Nebula (background).

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Details

Last Updated
Aug 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Laura Betz
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov

Video Credit

NASA, NASA-JPL, Robert Hurt (Caltech)

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