Stars form in the cold dense cores of giant molecular clouds. All newly-formed stars are surrounded by a circumstellar disk containing enough material to make a planetary system. SSP scientists use observations and theoretical data to understand how the central star and the surrounding disk evolve with time.

Many stars form in clusters. The clusters range in size from small groups of 5-10 times to dense clusters of thousands of stars. SSP scientists study the origin, structure, and evolution of young star clusters.

Project Links

h & χ Persei (Double Cluster)
Origins of Life Initiative
Taurus-Auriga dark clouds
Triggered star formation in galaxies

People

Nancy S. Brickhouse, Thayne Currie, Steven Cranmer, Andrea Dupree, Grant Kennedy, Scott Kenyon, Mari Paz Miralles, John Raymond, Dimitar Sasselov