Telescope captures dramatic moment of star birth

[August 21, 2013]  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- This is one baby picture you won't want to miss.

The ALMA (AL'-mah) telescope in Chile has captured a close-up of the glowing material spewing from a newborn star.

The stunning images show material streaming from the baby star at incredible speed, glowing as it plows into the surrounding gas and dust. Astronomers say these illuminated jets are spewing out faster than ever measured before and are more energetic than previously thought.

The glowing mass is called a Herbig-Haro object, named after U.S. and Mexican astronomers. This one is 1,400 light-years away in the constellation Vela.

ALMA actually consists of an array of 66 antennas and is relatively new. It's located in one of the driest places on Earth, the Atacama desert.

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Online:

European Southern Observatory: http://www.eso.org/public/

[Associated Press; By MARCIA DUNN]

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