Study co-author Sofia Ramstedt from Uppsala University, Sweden, said: “Currently, we can describe the death processes common to many Sun-like stars, but we cannot explain why or exactly how they happen.
“HD101584 gives us important clues to solve this puzzle since it is currently in a short transitional phase between better studied evolutionary stages.
“With detailed images of the environment of HD101584 we can make the connection between the giant star it was before, and the stellar remnant it will soon become.”
Co-author Elizabeth Humphreys from ESO in Chile also said: “This stunning image of the circumstellar environment of HD101584 would not have been possible without the exquisite sensitivity and angular resolution provided by ALMA.”
source: express.co.uk