News In Brief

Photos of possible formation of new solar system released

Scientists released Monday the first photograph of what they say is a possible new solar system in the early stages of formation around the star Beta Pictoris, 293 trillion miles from our own sun. The photograph was taken from a 100-inch optical telescope at the Carnegie Institution's Las Campanas Observatory near Serena, Chile.

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), a satellite-born telescope that operated for 10 months after its launch into Earth orbit on Jan. 25, 1983, searched for and detected invisible infrared heat radiation screened out by Earth's atmosphere.