Science & Technology, UK (Commonwealth Union) – Recent imagery of a dying star located at the heart of a well-recognized planetary nebula, positioned a staggering 2,600 light years away from our planet, has astounded a consortium of global scientists by uncovering its true nature as a triple-star system.
Led by a group of researchers from Cardiff University’s School of Physics and Astronomy, this team has disclosed that the images of the Ring Nebula, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) during the period spanning from July to August 2022, have unveiled previously uncharted intricacies within its configuration.
Characterized by an unparalleled spatial precision and spectral responsiveness, these images provide an unprecedented glimpse into the nebula’s composition, spotlighting around 20,000 densely-packed globules that are enriched with molecular hydrogen. Beyond the luminous ring, a discernible halo encircles the structure, adorned with hundreds of radial protrusions and approximately ten concentric arcs.
These arcs are speculated to emerge from the dynamic interaction between the central star and a companion of modest mass, orbiting at a distance akin to the span between Earth and the dwarf planet Pluto. Consequently, nebulae like the Ring Nebula offer a unique kind of astronomical chronicle, as astronomers meticulously scrutinize them to glean insights about the stellar entities that were instrumental in their formation.
Heading the analysis, Dr. Roger Wesson, a Research Associate at Cardiff University’s School of Physics and Astronomy, indicated, that the imagery captured by JWST unveils architectures that lay beyond the discernment of any preceding telescope.
“We can now see the subtle influence of a third, previously unknown star in the system, alongside a much more distant companion which was identified in 2021. This third star has sculpted the outflow from the dying central star of the nebula and imprinted a faint concentric pattern into the outer parts of the nebula.”
Planetary nebulae, such as the Ring Nebula, emerge when stars with a mass of approximately up to eight times that of our Sun consume the hydrogen within their cores and expel their outer layers. Understanding the evolutionary process and demise of these stars is pivotal in comprehending the origins of essential elements like carbon and nitrogen in the universe. These elements are fundamental for the development of life on Earth.
Dr. Wesson further indicated that planetary nebulae used to be perceived as relatively uncomplicated entities, exhibiting a roughly spherical shape with a solitary star positioned at their core. However, Hubble’s observations revealed a much more intricate nature, and the recent imagery from the JWST is unraveling even more detailed complexities within these formations.
The revelation that the star’s intricate outflow is influenced by the presence of a nearby binary companion offers a long-awaited resolution to questions regarding the origin of these intricate features, Dr. Wesson added.
Launched in December 2021, the JWST initiative is an international collaboration spearheaded by NASA, in conjunction with its partners: the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.
Researchers indicated that the upcoming decade’s foremost observatory, the JWST, will empower astronomers across the globe to scrutinize every epoch in the chronicles of our Universe. This encompasses the initial radiant glimmers following the Big Bang, the development of starry and planetary systems with the potential to foster life akin to Earth, and the progression of our own Solar System.
Dr. Mikako Matsuura, a Reader at the School of Physics and Astronomy in Cardiff University, indicated that with a telescope diameter of six meters, JWST surpasses Hubble’s size by threefold. Moreover, it is equipped with two infrared cameras, extending its reach to longer wavelengths imperceptible to the human eye and even beyond Hubble’s capabilities.
Advances in technology have often shed light on previously misunderstood areas in all fields of science to which this new telescope is likely to play such a role.
