The Webb Space Telescope Studies the Southern Ring Nebula

  • Released Monday, May 27, 2024
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Webb Space Telescope NIRCam image

Webb Space Telescope NIRCam image

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has cast the Southern Ring Nebula in an entirely new light. By observing the nebula in mid-infrared wavelengths, Webb has unveiled the second, dusty star at the center of the nebula in far more detail. The star closely orbits its companion as it periodically ejects layers of gas and dust. Together, the swirling duo have created a fantastic landscape of asymmetrical shells. Webb’s near-infrared light image hones in on “spotlights” from the stars, where light travels through holes in the nebula’s dusty ejections.

You might remember the Southern Ring Nebula was one of the first images released from Webb. Webb saw two stars within the nebula: 1) the dying star that created the nebula by blowing off its layers, and 2) a companion that orbits it. But now, after carefully studying Webb data, scientists believe that there may be more hidden companions that have helped shape the gas and dust of this nebula, potentially a total of 5 stars!

Webb Space Telescope MIRI image

Webb Space Telescope MIRI image

Each of these two views of the Southern Ring combine near- and mid-infrared data from Webb. On the left, the selected infrared wavelengths highlight the very hot gas that surrounds the two central stars. The central star that created the nebula is shown here in red; the companion is white/blue. On the right, different infrared wavelengths show the outflows from the star that reach out into space. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and O. De Marco (Macquarie University), with image processing by J. DePasquale (STScI).

Each of these two views of the Southern Ring combine near- and mid-infrared data from Webb. On the left, the selected infrared wavelengths highlight the very hot gas that surrounds the two central stars. The central star that created the nebula is shown here in red; the companion is white/blue. On the right, different infrared wavelengths show the outflows from the star that reach out into space.

Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and O. De Marco (Macquarie University), with image processing by J. DePasquale (STScI).

Here, the first panel highlights thicker, curvier wisps at the edges of the nebula, while the second panel highlights straight lines. Researchers project that the latter may have been shot out hundreds of years earlier and at greater speeds than the shorter, curly lines.Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and O. De Marco (Macquarie University), with image processing by J. DePasquale (STScI).

Here, the first panel highlights thicker, curvier wisps at the edges of the nebula, while the second panel highlights straight lines. Researchers project that the latter may have been shot out hundreds of years earlier and at greater speeds than the shorter, curly lines.

Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and O. De Marco (Macquarie University), with image processing by J. DePasquale (STScI).

How did up to five stars create the Southern Ring Nebula? Panel 1 shows a wider field with stars 1, 2, and 5, the last of which orbits star 1 far more tightly than star 2 does. Panel 2 zooms way in on the scene, and two other stars (3 and 4) appear in view; star 3 is emitting jets. Panel 3 shows star 1 expanding as it ages. Both stars 3 and 4 have sent off a series of jets. In panel 4 we zoom out to see how light and stellar winds are carving out a bubble-like cavity. Star 1 is surrounded by a dusty disk. In the fifth panel, star 5 is interacting with the ejected gas and dust, generating the system of large rings seen in the outer nebula. The sixth panel portrays the scene as we observe it today.Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, E. Wheatley (STScI)

How did up to five stars create the Southern Ring Nebula? Panel 1 shows a wider field with stars 1, 2, and 5, the last of which orbits star 1 far more tightly than star 2 does. Panel 2 zooms way in on the scene, and two other stars (3 and 4) appear in view; star 3 is emitting jets. Panel 3 shows star 1 expanding as it ages. Both stars 3 and 4 have sent off a series of jets. In panel 4 we zoom out to see how light and stellar winds are carving out a bubble-like cavity. Star 1 is surrounded by a dusty disk. In the fifth panel, star 5 is interacting with the ejected gas and dust, generating the system of large rings seen in the outer nebula. The sixth panel portrays the scene as we observe it today.

Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, E. Wheatley (STScI)

NGC 3132: The Southern Ring Nebula Hubble vs. Webb Space Telescope. You can see the vast improvement in resolution and clarity over images of the same regions collected by the Hubble Space Telescope, and begin to understand all the new discoveries and science now possible.

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NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

This page was originally published on Monday, May 27, 2024.
This page was last updated on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 12:37 AM EDT.

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