James Webb Captures Exceptional Images of the Lyra Nebula
Photo Credit: Images taken by James Webb show the main ring, surrounded by a faint halo and many delicate structures. The inside of the ring is filled with hot gas. The star that ejected all this material is visible in the center. It is extremely hot, with a temperature of over 100,000 degrees.
The University of ManchesterThe James Webb Space Telescope has recorded exceptional images of the iconic Lyra Nebula, also known as Messier 57.
We can once again say thank you and congratulations to James Webb. NASA's space telescope has once again distinguished itself by delivering splendid images with an "unprecedented" level of detail of a cosmic object well known to astronomers. This is the Lyra Nebula also called the Ring Nebula or Messier 57.
It is known for its doughnut-shaped ring of gas and dust that can be observed quite easily using a small telescope or an amateur refracting telescope. The images produced by James Webb delight with their beauty but they are also valuable for teaching scientists because they give us a taste of what awaits the solar system several billion years from now, when the Sun will have exhausted its fuel and will evolve into a red giant that will engulf the surrounding planets.
A close-up of part of the nebula shows that the ring is made up of a large number of small clusters. The team counted up to 20,000 clusters. They contain molecular hydrogen and are much colder and denser than the rest of the nebula. Some of these clusters behave like planet-sized comets.
The University of ManchesterA still very mysterious nebula
Indeed, this nebula which is 2,600 light-years from Earth represents the remains of a dying star that has expelled its outer layers into space. In the center of the nebula is the white dwarf, a vestige of the deceased star, whose size is close to that of the Earth. The various rings and clouds that compose it are all chemical processes that can help scientists better understand the process of formation of a nebula.
Close-up of the southern part of the halo located outside the main ring. The team discovered several hundred linear features pointing roughly towards the central star. Their origin is not yet clear. It is still unclear how a single star can create such a complex nebula. James Webb will study the structure and origin of clusters and bands.
The University of Manchester“The James Webb Space Telescope has given us an extraordinary view of the Ring Nebula that we have never seen before,” says Professor Mike Barlow, who co-leads the team that released these images. "We are witnessing the final chapters of a star's life, a glimpse into the distant future of the Sun in a way. The JWST observations have opened a new window to understanding these awe-inspiring cosmic events.”
Close-up of the central parts of the nebula. The brightest glow is the extremely hot dying star that has exhausted all its fuel and is cooling. She became a white dwarf.
The University of ManchesterSource: websites