The Ring Nebula has long mystified astronomers with its complex and subtle structures.. Previously, nebulae were thought to be simple and round, but now they are known to be more complex.
Here you can see the image in high resolution
Images obtained by the James Webb Telescope show Extraordinary details of the Ring NebulaThe researchers were amazed.
As NASA explains in an article, the bright ring that gives the nebula its name is made up of about 20,000 dense molecules of hydrogen gas, each as heavy as Earth.
Notably, within the ring is a narrow band of emission from complex carbon-containing molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The presence of such molecules in the Ring Nebula is unexpected.
In addition, the Webb images revealed intriguing “spikes” extending from the central star, previously unseen in Hubble Space Telescope images.
An infrared instrument (MIRI) on the Webb Telescope captured a faint molecular halo outside the bright ring. With unprecedented sharpness and clarity.
Up to ten regularly spaced concentric patterns were detected within this halo. These concentric curves are estimated to form approximately every 280 years.This indicates the influence of a companion star orbiting the central star at a distance similar to Pluto’s orbit from the Sun.
The companion star is thought to have carved out the nebula as it shed its outer layers, shaping the star’s exit.
Roger Wesson, Research Associate at Cardiff University and co-investigator of the ESSENcE programmeWebb expressed his surprise at the amount of detail captured by the telescope.
International team EssenceDeveloped by experts in planetary nebulae, the Ring Nebula is recognized as an ideal target for unraveling the mysteries surrounding these celestial bodies.
With further analysis, the data obtained by the Webb telescope is expected to improve. Our understanding of dying stars and their remarkable transformations into planetary nebulae.
Ongoing scientific progress with Webb promises exciting and groundbreaking discoveries that will transform our understanding of the universe.
