In 1979 observations with theLallemand electronic camera at thePic-du-Midi Observatory showed six unresolved high-ionization sources near theTrapezium Cluster. These sources were not interpreted as proplyds, but as partly ionized globules (PIGs). The idea was that these objects are being ionized from the outside byM42.[3] Later observations with theVery Large Array showed solar-system-sized condensations associated with these sources. Here the idea appeared that these objects might be low-mass stars surrounded by an evaporating protostellar accretion disk.[4]
Proplyds were clearly resolved in 1993 using images of theHubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera and the term "proplyd" was used.[5]
Illustration of the dynamics of a proplyd, including anastrophysical jetComponents of proplyd 177-341W in the Orion Nebula observed withVLTMUSE, showing an ionization front, protoplanetary disk, and tail[6]
In the Orion Nebula the proplyds observed are usually one of two types. Some proplydsglow aroundluminous stars, in cases where the disk is found close to the star, glowing from the star's luminosity. Other proplyds are found at a greater distance from the host star and instead show up as dark silhouettes due to the self-obscuration of cooler dust and gases from the disk itself. Some proplyds show signs of movement fromsolar irradiance shock waves pushing the proplyds. The Orion Nebula is approximately 1,500light-years from theSun with very activestar formation. The Orion Nebula and the Sun are in the samespiral arm of theMilky Way galaxy.[7][8][9][10]
Photoevaporating proplyds in other star forming regions were found with theHubble Space Telescope.NGC 1977 currently represents the star-forming region with the largest number of proplyds outside of the Orion Nebula, with 7 confirmed proplyds. It was also the first instance where a B-type star,42 Orionis is responsible for the photoevaporation.[20] In addition, 4 clear and 4 candidate proplyds were discovered in the very young regionNGC 2024, two of which have been photoevaporated by a B star.[21] TheNGC 2024 proplyds are significant because they imply that external photoevaporation of protoplanetary disks could compete even with very early planet formation (within the first half a million years).
Another type of photoevaporating proplyd was discovered with theSpitzer Space Telescope. These cometary tails representdust being pulled away from the disks.[22]Westerhout 5 is a region with many dusty proplyds, especially aroundHD 17505.[23] These dusty proplyds are depleted of any gas in the outer regions of the disk, but the photoevaporation could leave an inner, more robust, and possibly gas-rich disk component of radius 5-10astronomical units.[24]
The proplyds in the Orion Nebula and other star-forming regions represent proto-planetary disks aroundlow-mass stars being externally photoevaporated. These low-mass proplyds are usually found within 0.3parsec (60,000astronomical units) of the massive OB star and the dusty proplyds have tails with a length of 0.1 to 0.2 parsec (20,000 to 40,000 au).[22] There is a proposed type of intermediate massive counterpart, calledproplyd-like objects. Objects inNGC 3603 and later inCygnus OB2 were proposed as intermediate massive versions of the bright proplyds found in the Orion Nebula. The proplyd-like objects in Cygnus OB2 for example are 6 to 14 parsec distant to a large collection ofOB stars and have tail lengths of 0.11 to 0.55 parsec (24,000 to 113,000 au).[25][26] The nature of proplyd-like objects as intermediate massive proplyds is partly supported by a spectrum for one object, which showed that the mass loss rate is higher than the mass accretion rate. Another object did not show any outflow, but accretion.[27]
Very bright proplyd 181-825 in the Orion Nebula, from Hubble Space Telescope
Dark proplyd 132-1832 in the Orion Nebula, from Hubble Space Telescope
Bright proplyd 170-249 in the Orion Nebula, from Hubble Space Telescope. The upward tail is a jet of dust and gas blowing away from the excited proplyd
One of the largest dark proplyd in the Orion Nebula,Proplyd 114-426 imaged withJWST.
ESOVLTMUSE image of proplyd 244-440 in the Orion Nebula. The young object is ejecting a jet (red color) and is surrounded by a blue halo of unknown origin.[44]
Proplyds in the Orion Nebula that arebrown dwarfs according to Luhman et al. 2024[45]
ESOVLTMUSE images (insets) of twelve proplyds in the Orion Nebula, presented in Aru et al. 2024.[46] In each inset, a variety of emission lines are combined to highlight the morphology of the proplyd.
^Laques, P.; Vidal, J. L. (March 1979). "Detection of a new kind of condensations in the center of the Orion Nebula, by means of S 20 photocathodes associated with a Lallemand electronic camera".Astronomy & Astrophysics.73:97–106.Bibcode:1979A&A....73...97L.ISSN0004-6361.
^From Lithium to Uranium (IAU S228): Elemental Tracers of Early Cosmic EvolutionBy International Astronomical Union. Symposium, by Vanessa Hill, Patrick Francois,Francesca Primas, page 509-511, "the G star problem"
^Brandner, Wolfgang; Grebel, Eva K.; Chu, You-Hua; Dottori, Horacio; Brandl, Bernhard; Richling, Sabine; Yorke, Harold W.; Points, Sean D.; Zinnecker, Hans (January 2000). "HST/WFPC2 and VLT/ISAAC Observations of Proplyds in the Giant H II Region NGC 3603*".The Astronomical Journal.119 (1): 292.arXiv:astro-ph/9910074.Bibcode:2000AJ....119..292B.doi:10.1086/301192.ISSN1538-3881.S2CID15502401.
^Luhman, K. L.; Alves de Oliveira, C;Baraffe, I.; Chabrier, G.; Manjavacas, E.; Parker, R. J.; Tremblin, P. (13 Oct 2024). "JWST/NIRSpec Observations of Brown Dwarfs in the Orion Nebula Cluster".arXiv:2410.10000 [astro-ph].