A Stunning New Image Reveals the Birth of a Star
Astronomers have captured a stunning new image of a newborn star cocooned in its cosmic crib of gas and dust. The image, taken by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), offers an unprecedented view of the formation of stars.
The star, known as HH 797, is located in the Carina Nebula, a giant cloud of gas and dust about 7,600 light-years from Earth. The nebula is a stellar nursery, where new stars are born.
HH 797 is still very young, only about 100,000 years old. It is surrounded by a disk of material that is feeding the star as it grows. The disk is also being heated by the star's jets of gas, which are visible in the image as bright red streaks.
The JWST image is much more detailed than any previous image of a Herbig-Haro object. This is because the JWST is able to see infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye. Infrared light is able to penetrate the gas and dust that surrounds young stars, making it possible to see them in much more detail.
The new image of HH 797 is helping astronomers to understand how stars form. It is also providing new insights into the early stages of a star's life.
What is a Herbig-Haro object?
A Herbig-Haro object is a type of nebula that is associated with a young star. Herbig-Haro objects are formed when stellar winds and jets of gas from the newborn star collide with the surrounding gas and dust. This collision creates shockwaves that heat the gas and dust, causing it to glow brightly.
What is the James Webb Space Telescope?
The James Webb Space Telescope is the most powerful space telescope ever built. It was launched in December 2021 and is designed to observe the universe in infrared light. The JWST is a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency.
What are the benefits of studying Herbig-Haro objects?
Studying Herbig-Haro objects helps us to understand how stars form. It also provides insights into the early stages of a star's life. This information can help us to better understand the evolution of the universe.
What are the next steps for astronomers studying Herbig-Haro objects?
Astronomers are continuing to study Herbig-Haro objects with the JWST. They are also using other telescopes to study these objects in different wavelengths of light. This research is helping us to build a more complete picture of how stars form.