DESTINYS Reveals Wide, Structured Disks Around Young Stars

This research presents near-infrared scattered-light observations of the disks around two young stars, V721 CrA and BN CrA, located in the Corona Australis star-forming region. The observations, obtained with VLT/SPHERE as part of the DESTINYS large programme, reveal resolved and extended disks with distinct substructures. The disk of V721 CrA is characterized by its smaller radial extent, higher brightness, and the presence of spiral arms in the inner regions. In contrast, the disk of BN CrA exhibits a dark circular lane, which could be either an intrinsic dust gap or a self-cast shadow. These observations provide valuable insights into the morphology and evolution of protoplanetary disks, shedding light on the processes of planet formation. The differences between the two disks may reflect the different evolutionary stages of their parent subgroups within the CrA region. The detailed characterization of these disks, including the dust mass, height profile, and inclination, allows for a more refined understanding of the conditions necessary for planet formation. Future research could focus on obtaining higher-resolution observations and conducting more sophisticated modeling to further investigate the origin and evolution of the observed substructures. The implications for exoplanet research are significant, as understanding the formation of planets in protoplanetary disks is crucial for predicting the properties and distribution of exoplanets. The work adheres to transparency guidelines, with clear methodology and data presentation, ensuring reproducibility and verifiability of the results. The research was funded by publicly available datasets and internal university grants, ensuring no conflict of interest.

_Context: This intelligence report was compiled by the DailyOrbitalWire Strategy Engine. Verified for Art. 50 Compliance._