One of the most famous stars in the Milky Way is set to disappear, offering a unique opportunity to gain insights into our Solar System (photo).

One of the most prominent young stars in our Milky Way Galaxy is set to vanish for approximately 100 years, as it will be obscured by a thick disk of gas and dust. However, this presents an opportunity for astronomers to gain a deeper understanding of our Solar System. The study has been accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal, reports Space.

The variable star T Tauri is located 471 light-years away from us, and its brightness fluctuates unpredictably. This is a very young star, just a few million years old, while the Sun is over 4.5 billion years old. In fact, T Tauri is a triple star system and is one of the most well-known young stars in our galaxy.

Of the three stars in the T Tauri system, only one — T Tauri North — can be seen in the visible light spectrum. The other two stars, forming a binary system and known as T Tauri South A and T Tauri South B, orbit the main star at a distance of nearly 15 billion kilometers, completing a full orbit every 4600 years. The latter two stars can only be observed in the infrared spectrum, as they are obscured by a thick disk of dust and gas. The study has shown that the disk of T Tauri South has now begun to obscure T Tauri North, and astronomers predict that this star will disappear from view for about 100 years.

Previously, the brightness of this star always varied, but on average, it was at a magnitude of 10.2. The lower the magnitude number, the easier it is to see with the naked eye. For example, people can see stars with a brightness no greater than a magnitude of 6 without telescopes.

The study indicated that T Tauri North has become dimmer, now having a magnitude of 12. Scientists' calculations suggest that the star will continue to fade.

The disk of gas and dust that shields T Tauri South A and B from view in visible light renders the brightness of the binary system equivalent to a magnitude of 20. This means it is very dense and thick, and it will also now obscure T Tauri North.

At the same time, astronomers state that the dimming of T Tauri North has positive implications for scientists. Once the disk of gas and dust fully obscures the main star in the triple system, the light from the star will be filtered through the gas and dust, beginning to be absorbed at specific wavelengths by molecules within the disk. This will allow astronomers to see what gases and particles make up this disk.

Considering that planets will form in this disk in the future, the dimming of T Tauri North presents a unique opportunity for astronomers to study the environment of planet formation. The outer part of the disk, which is equivalent to the Kuiper Belt at the edge of the Solar System, will be particularly well visible. This distant region from the Sun contains millions of icy bodies, including the dwarf planet Pluto. Observing the dimming of this young star will provide insight into the history of our Solar System, which also formed from a disk of gas and dust surrounding the young Sun billions of years ago.