Astonishing Space Phenomenon Shows Rings Of Light Radiating Outwards
James Webb Space Telescope, the space observatory has captured a star 5,600 light-years away
The iconic James Webb Space Telescope has captured a stunning phenomenon in space. The space observatory has captured a star 5,600 light-years away.
What's astonishing is the detail captured by the telescope - concentric rings of light radiating outward. In the image, you may see spikes and rings. The spikes are a product of the telescope and not really there, but those rings are depicted as they are in space.
(JWST/MIRI/Judy Schmidt)
What are the rings?
According to Science Alert, the star is a binary pair of rare stars in the constellation of Cygnus. Owing to their interactions, periodic eruptions are dust are produced around them that keep expanding into the space around the star pair over time.
The dust shells glow in infrared, allowing Webb's MIRI to capture them in unreal detail. The star system is example of a "colliding wind binary," consisting of a rare Wolf-Rayet star called WR 140 and an O-type star companion.
Also read: James Webb Space Telescope's Largest Image Of The Cosmos Yet Is Here
(JWST/MIRI/Judy Schmidt)
Wolf-Rayet stars are extremely bright, hot, and old. In fact, they're in the end of their lifespan. O-type stars are also rare, and among the most massive stars known. But because they're so massive, their lifespans are short. When the stars come in close contact with each other, the powerful winds surrounding them collide, producing this ripple of dust around the system.
What James Webb captured is essentially the dust, a form of carbon that absorbs ultraviolet light from both the stars. The dust heats in this process and re-emits thermal radiation - as observed by James Webb Space Telescope.
ESA
Also read: James Webb Telescope Detects CO2 In A Planet¡¯s Atmosphere Outside Our Solar System
This collision of wind takes place every 7.49 years - the same taken by the binary star to complete one orbit. What do you think about this fascinating star system? Let us know in the comments below.
For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
References
Starr, M. (2022, August 31). Extraordinary Phenomenon in Space Captured by Spellbinding New Image : ScienceAlert.
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