NASA & DLR - SOFIA Mission patch.
Jan. 8, 2020
This artist’s concept illustrates a catastrophic collision between two rocky exoplanets in the planetary system BD +20 307, turning both into dusty debris. Ten years ago, scientists speculated that the warm dust in this system was a result of a planet-to-planet collision. Now, NASA's SOFIA mission found even more warm dust, further supporting that two rocky exoplanets collided. This helps build a more complete picture of our own solar system’s history. Such a collision could be similar to the type of catastrophic event that ultimately created our Moon.
SOFIA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/SOFIA/index.html
Exoplanets: https://www.nasa.gov/content/the-search-for-life
Image, Text, Credits: NASA/Yvette Smith/SOFIA/Lynette Cook.
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