Mari-Liis Aru
Mari-Liis Aru is a dedicated and astute scientist specializing in the study of photoevaporation within protoplanetary disks in the Orion Nebula with a special focus on massive, bright stars. Photoevaporation results from high energy radiation interacting with small particles that make up a disk, either from an interstellar source, or spectral type O or B stars at the center of the disk when their emissions can significantly impact the final result of planet formation.
Mari-Liis is passionate about uncovering the mysteries of star formation and planetary system development. With advanced knowledge in observational techniques and data analysis, she employs cutting-edge tools to collect and interpret data from distant cosmic regions.
Her contributions to the field have the potential to enhance our comprehension of the complex dynamics between massive stars, protoplanetary disks, and planet formation.
Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Robberto, the Hubble Space Telescope Orion Treasury Project Team, L. Ricci (ESO)
A proplyd, or ionized protoplanetary disk, is a distinct astronomical object, many of which are found within the Orion Nebula. These proplyds are young star-forming regions where the process of planetary formation is taking place.
The fascinating aspect here lies in the interaction between these protoplanetary disks and the harsh environmental conditions within the nebula. Intense radiation and stellar winds from massive stars play a substantial role in shaping these proplyds, influencing the structure and composition of the disks.
Studying proplyds in such environments helps scientists understand the challenges and complexities that young planetary systems face during their development, shedding light on the spectacular processes of celestial body creation in the cosmos.
Illustration Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI) - https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/images/2001/13/1044-Image.html
Mari-Liis Aru
Mari-Liis Aru is an astrophysics researcher doing her PhD at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Germany. She uses data from one of the world's most advanced telescopes to study protoplanetary disks—the birthplaces of planets. Mari-Liis's background includes a master's degree in Space Sciences from University of Liège, Belgium, and a two-year research experience at the European Space Agency (ESA), the Netherlands.
She shares digestible explanations of complex topics to a general audience in her online newsletter Kosmosest on astronomy and space exploration on Substack.