description TW Hydrae Overview
The star TW Hydrae is a nearby classical T Tauri star in the constellation Hydra, about 176 light-years from Earth. It is surrounded by a gas-and-dust protoplanetary disk whose structure includes a prominent gap observed by the Hubble Space Telescope. The gap has been interpreted as possible evidence of a growing planet, and the system is used to study young stars, accretion disks and planet formation. [NASA](https://science.nasa.gov/asset/hubble/tw-hydrae-protoplanetary-disk/)
help TW Hydrae FAQ
What kind of star is TW Hydrae?
TW Hydrae is a nearby classical T Tauri star in the constellation Hydra. NASA places it about 176 light-years from Earth and identifies it as a young star surrounded by a gas-and-dust disk.
What is the gap in TW Hydrae's protoplanetary disk?
Hubble observations revealed a gap about 7.5 billion miles from the star that is roughly 1.9 billion miles wide. The observations were made in 2005 using Hubble's NICMOS instrument.
Does the gap around TW Hydrae prove that a planet exists there?
No, it is evidence consistent with a growing unseen planet clearing material from the disk, not a direct image of that planet. NASA describes the planet explanation as the best interpretation of the Hubble structure.
Why is TW Hydrae important for studying planet formation?
It is a relatively nearby young star with a gas-rich protoplanetary disk that can be observed in detail. Its disk lets astronomers study structures that may develop into planets around a star roughly 176 light-years away.
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