These observations of NGC 3324 will shed light on the process of star formation. Source: NASA.
It appears this will be a gift that keeps on giving with these latest photos taken by the James Webb Telescope (JWST) displaying extraordinary deep space phenomena.
US president Joe Biden released the first JWST photo yesterday, calling it “a new window into the history of our universe” but more windows have been opened today with NASA having released a new set of images.
These four latest photos show off space sensations that have never been seen before in such high-quality.
After hours of surveillance by the JWST, scientists were able to make new discoveries about the Southern Ring Nebula.
“By observing the nebula in mid-infrared wavelengths, Webb has unveiled the second, dusty star at the centre of the nebula in far more detail. The star closely orbits its companion as it periodically ejects layers of gas and dust,” said NASA.
New light was shed on the atmosphere of an exoplanet called WASP-96 which lies 1000 light-years-away from earth with the James Webb Telescope revealing the presence of water, haze and clouds, something which was never picked up on before.
One of the most exciting findings, NASA said, were new images of Stephan’s Quintet which is a grouping of five galaxies some 40 million light-years from Earth.
“The close proximity of this group gives astronomers a ringside seat to galactic mergers and interactions. Rarely do scientists see in so much detail how interacting galaxies trigger star formation in each other, and how the gas in these galaxies is being disturbed.
“The image also shows outflows driven by a supermassive black hole in one of the group’s galaxies in a level of detail never seen before.”
Researchers also found hidden gems in the Carina Nebula, with “mountains” and “valley” in what they’re calling a stellar nursery.
“So-called mountains — some towering about 7 light-years high — are speckled with glittering, young stars imaged in infrared light,” said NASA.
“A cavernous area has been carved from the nebula by the intense ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds from extremely massive, hot, young stars located above the area shown in this image.
The blistering, ultraviolet radiation from these stars is sculpting the nebula’s wall by slowly eroding it away. Dramatic pillars rise above the glowing wall of gas, resisting this radiation.
The “steam” that appears to rise from the celestial “mountains” is actually hot, ionized gas and hot dust streaming away from the nebula due to the relentless radiation.”
