What does "VeLLO" mean?
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Very Low Luminosity Objects, or VeLLOs for short, are those shy, introverted types of stars that prefer to stay out of the spotlight. They are incredibly faint and often hidden deep within their parent clouds of gas and dust. Imagine trying to find a dim star in a very dark room—yep, that’s what scientists are dealing with when they study VeLLOs.
What Makes VeLLOs Special?
VeLLOs are believed to be in a calmer phase of star formation, just before they decide to grow up and become more developed stars. They usually show up in places full of gas and dust where stars are being born. Think of them as the wallflowers at a cosmic dance party, waiting for their moment to shine.
The Adventures of VeLLOs
These objects have a knack for keeping secrets. They can go through phases called "outbursts" where they suddenly increase their brightness. During these outbursts, they might release interesting chemicals into their surroundings. One recent study found a surprising amount of nitric oxide (NO) in a VeLLO, which hadn’t been spotted there before. It turns out that this chemical could hint at what was going on when the VeLLO had its moment in the sun—sort of like finding out your favorite introvert has a hidden talent for karaoke!
Why Study VeLLOs?
Scientists are keen to study VeLLOs because they fill in important gaps in our knowledge about how stars form. By looking at these objects, researchers can better understand the processes that lead to the creation of stars. They are especially interested in how VeLLOs interact with their environments and what chemicals they produce.
The Bottom Line
VeLLOs may not be the brightest stars in the sky, but they definitely have stories to tell. By peeking into their mysterious lives, scientists hope to learn more about the early stages of star formation and everything that goes into it. So, next time you gaze up at the stars, remember that some of them might just be playing hard to get!