Large Circumstellar Disc IRAS 23077+6707 in Cepheus | Hubble

Large Circumstellar Disc IRAS 23077+6707 in Cepheus | Hubble

This NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope image shows the largest planet-forming disc ever observed around a young star. It spans nearly 640 billion kilometers, roughly 40 times the diameter of our Solar System. Tilted nearly edge-on as seen from Earth, the dark, dusty disk resembles a hamburger. Hubble reveals it to be unusually chaotic with bright wisps of material extending far above and below the disk—more than seen in any similar circumstellar disk. Cataloged as IRAS 23077+6707, the system is located approximately 1,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus. The discovery marks a new milestone for Hubble and offers fresh insight into planet formation in extreme environments across the galaxy.

Image Description: Near the center is an object that resembles an edge-on view of a hamburger. There is a diagonal dark strip (the meat patty) of dust, running from 1 o’clock to 7 o’clock, that obscures a central star. Curving away from either side of the dark strip are glowing white clouds (the buns) where dust is reflecting starlight. Bright blue finger-like wisps of material extend far above and below the dark center plane. A few dozen stars, several with four diffraction spikes, are scattered on the black background of space.

Learn more: 
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/nasas-hubble-reveals-largest-found-chaotic-birthplace-of-planets/

Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, K. Monsch (CfA) Image Processing: J. DePasquale (STScI)

Release Date: Dec. 23, 2025

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