How the Webb telescope reveals the secrets of the Ring Nebula
The Ring Nebula is one of the most iconic objects in our sky. It’s a doughnut-shaped cloud of gas and dust that was formed by a dying star. It has been observed for centuries, but never before with such detail and clarity as by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
The JWST is the successor of the Hubble Space Telescope, and it was launched in December 2022. It has a primary mirror that is 6.5 meters in diameter, and it operates at infrared wavelengths, allowing it to see deeper into space and capture fainter objects.
The JWST’s observations of the Ring Nebula revealed new details of the inner region around the white dwarf star, as well as the complex structure and colors of the nebula. The image shows the intricate patterns of gas and dust that are shaped by the stellar wind and radiation from the star. The nebula also displays a variety of hues, ranging from red to blue, depending on the temperature and composition of the gas.
The Ring Nebula is located in the constellation of Lyra, about 2,600 light-years from Earth, and it has a diameter of about one light-year. It is one of the most studied planetary nebulae, which are not related to planets but to the final stages of stars like our sun. When a star runs out of nuclear fuel, it expands into a red giant and sheds its outer layers, creating a nebula. The core of the star remains as a white dwarf, which is very hot and dense.
The JWST’s observations could help scientists understand how these nebulae form and evolve. “The James Webb Space Telescope has provided us with an extraordinary view of the Ring Nebula that we’ve never seen before,” said Dr Mike Barlow, the lead scientist of the JWST Ring Nebula Project. “We are witnessing the final chapters of a star’s life, a preview of the sun’s distant future.”
“We can use the Ring Nebula as our laboratory to study how planetary nebulae form and evolve,” said Barlow. “JWSTs observations have opened a new window into understanding these awe-inspiring cosmic events.”
The Ring Nebula is also a glimpse into our own future. In about five billion years, our sun will also become a red giant and shed its outer layers, creating a similar nebula. Maybe then, some distant civilization will admire its beauty with their own space telescope.
“We are amazed by the details in the images, better than we have ever seen before,” said Albert Zijlstra, Professor in Astrophysics at the University of Manchester. “We always knew planetary nebulae were pretty. What we see now is spectacular.”
Relevant articles:
Jaw-Dropping ‘Ring Nebula’ Captured By Webb Telescope (And How To See It With Your Own Eyes)，Forbes，8/8/2023
James Webb Telescope Captures the Glowing Ring Nebula in Magnificent Detail, Smithsonian,8/8/2023
Webb Telescope Captures Ring Nebula With Unprecedented Detail，Extremetech，8/8/2023
Originally published at https://trendydigests.com on August 10, 2023.
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