Light-Year-Long Knot | Space Wallpaper

By Space.com Staff
published

IRAS 20324 4057 Protostar
This fascinating space wallpaper shows the caterpillar-shaped knot, called IRAS 20324+4057, which is a protostar in a very early evolutionary stage. It is still in the process of collecting material from an envelope of gas surrounding it. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), and IPHAS)

This fascinating space wallpaper shows the caterpillar-shaped knot, called IRAS 20324+4057, which is a protostar in a very early evolutionary stage. It is still in the process of collecting material from an envelope of gas surrounding it. This image was released Aug. 29, 2013. [Read Full Story]

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.