Dusty Planet-Forming Disk Mysteriously Fades Away

Until 2.5 years ago, a young solar system was emitting large amounts of infrared radiation due to the circumstellar disc of rocky debris surrounding it.

Artist's conceptualization of the TYC 8241 2652 system as it might appear now after most of the surrounding dust has disappeared—based on observations by the Gemini Observatory and other ground and space-based observatories. Gemini Observatory/AURA artwork by Lynette Cook

Astronomers are perplexed by the disappearing debris disk around a sun-like star that was thought to be a young solar system.

First seen in 1983, the star is known as TYC 8241 2652 1. It is located 450 light-years away and is about 10 million years old.

Until 2.5 years ago, the system was emitting large amounts of infrared radiation due to the circumstellar disc of rocky debris surrounding it.