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The brand-new infrared image from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope exposes the intricate structure of gas and dust shed by a white dwarf in the center of the Helix Nebula.
This Webb image reveals a part of the Helix Nebula. Image credit: NASA/ ESA/ CSA/ STScI/ A. Pagan, STScI.
The Helix Nebula is a planetary nebula situated around 655 light-years away in the constellation of Aquarius.
Identified in the early 1800s, it stays a preferred amongst stargazers and expert astronomers alike due to its relative distance to Earth, and striking look.
“In the image from Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), pillars that appear like comets with prolonged tails trace the area of the inner area of a broadening shell of gas,” the Webb astronomers stated in a declaration.
“Here, blistering winds of hot gas from the passing away star are crashing into chillier shells of dust and gas that were shed previously in its life, shaping the nebula’s amazing structure.”
“The renowned Helix Nebula has actually been imaged by lots of ground- and space-based observatories over the almost 2 centuries considering that it was found.”
“Webb’s near-infrared view of the target brings these knots to the leading edge compared to the heavenly image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.”
This image from the Visible and Infrared Telescope for Astronomy (left)reveals the complete view of the Helix Nebula, with a box highlighting the smaller sized field of vision from Webb’s NIRCam instrument (right). Image credit: NASA/ ESA/ CSA/ STScI/ A. Pagan, STScI.
Furthermore, the brand-new image reveals the plain shift in between the most popular gas to the coolest gas as the shell broadens out from the Helix Nebula’s main white dwarf, WD 2226-210.
“This blazing white dwarf lies right at the heart of the nebula, out of the frame of the Webb image,” the astronomers stated.
“Its extreme radiation illuminate the surrounding gas, developing a rainbow of functions: hot ionized gas closest to the white dwarf, cooler molecular hydrogen further out, and protective pockets where more complicated particles can start to form within dust clouds.”
“This interaction is essential, as it’s the raw product from which brand-new worlds might one day kind in other galaxy.”
“In Webb’s picture of the Helix Nebula, color represents this temperature level and chemistry,” they discussed.
“A touch of a blue color marks the most popular gas in this field, stimulated by extreme ultraviolet light.”
“Farther out, the gas cools into the yellow areas where hydrogen atoms sign up with into particles.”
“At the external edges, the reddish tones trace the coolest product, where gas starts to thin and dust can take shape.”
“Together, the colors reveal the star’s last breath changing into the raw active ingredients for brand-new worlds, contributing to the wealth of understanding acquired from Webb about the origin of worlds.”
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