pieces. Although the mechanism by which momentum is lost is not well understood, astronomers believe that in many cases a stellar wind blows particles from the star. It is this hot stellar wind that produces x-rays.
The area shown in this image has been nicknamed the ΓÇ£x-ray Christmas treeΓÇ¥ because the protostars here are highly variable in x-ray wavelength and appear to blink on and off. The blinkingΓÇö coupled with radio observationsΓÇö indicates that there may be surface activity similar to earthquakes on the protostars. These ΓÇ£starquakesΓÇ¥ΓÇö flares, eruptions, and other strange behavior on the starsΓÇÖ surfaceΓÇömay be induced by strong magnetic currents.
