Could THIS be our next home? These Kepler exoplanets look eerily like Earth—some even have water! Dive into 100 mind-blowing facts about the search for habitable worlds… you won’t believe #45 about TRAPPIST-1! Click to find out!
Zoom into the Tarantula Nebula as seen through the James Webb Space Telescope. For latest discoveries visit www.jameswebbdiscovery.com
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#HamasISIS If Israel doesn't finish off these terrorists, they will be soon all over the place. Share as much as possible, no one is safe just look at their brutality.
You’ll NEVER Believe What Voyager Discovered!
You’ll NEVER Believe What Voyager Discovered! From alien messages on the Golden Record to volcanoes on Io, the Voyager Program’s 48-year journey is jaw-dropping! Uncover 100 mind-blowing facts that’ll change how you see the universe—click now! https://www.jameswebbdiscovery.com/universe/100-fascinating-facts-about-the-voyager-program
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has begun the study of one of the most renowned supernovae, SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). Located 168,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, SN 1987A has been a target of intense observations at wavelengths ranging from gamma rays to radio for nearly 40 years, since its discovery in February of 1987. New observations by Webb's NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) provide a crucial clue to our understanding of how a supernova develops over time to shape its remnant.
This image reveals a central structure like a keyhole. This center is packed with clumpy gas and dust ejected by the supernova explosion. The dust is so dense that even near-infrared light that Webb detects can't penetrate it, shaping the dark "hole" in the keyhole.
A bright, equatorial ring surrounds the inner keyhole, forming a band around the waist that connects two faint arms of hourglass-shaped outer rings. The equatorial ring, formed from material ejected tens of thousands of years before the supernova explosion, contains bright hot spots, which appeared as the supernova's shock wave hit the ring. Now spots are found even exterior to the ring, with diffuse emission surrounding it. These are the locations of supernova shocks hitting more exterior material.
While these structures have been observed to varying degrees by NASA's Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes and Chandra X-ray Observatory, the unparalleled sensitivity and spatial resolution of Webb revealed a new feature in this supernova remnant—small crescent-like structures.
These crescents are thought to be a part of the outer layers of gas shot out from the supernova explosion. Their brightness may be an indication of limb brightening, an optical phenomenon that results from viewing the expanding material in three dimensions. In other words, our viewing angle makes it appear that there is more material in these two crescents than there actually may be.
The high resolution of these images is also noteworthy. Before Webb, the now-retired Spitzer telescope observed this supernova in infrared throughout its entire lifespan, yielding key data about how its emissions evolved over time. However, it was never able to observe the supernova with such clarity and detail.
Despite the decades of study since the supernova's initial discovery, there are several mysteries that remain, particularly surrounding the neutron star that should have been formed in the aftermath of the supernova explosion. Like Spitzer, Webb will continue to observe the supernova over time.
Its NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) instruments will offer astronomers the ability to capture new, high-fidelity infrared data over time and gain new insights into the newly identified crescent structures. Further, Webb will continue to collaborate with Hubble, Chandra, and other observatories to provide new insights into the past and future of this legendary supernova.
TOP IMAGE....Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) captured this detailed image of SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). At the center, material ejected from the supernova forms a keyhole shape. Just to its left and right are faint crescents newly discovered by Webb. Beyond them an equatorial ring, formed from material ejected tens of thousands of years before the supernova explosion, contains bright hot spots. Exterior to that is diffuse emission and two faint outer rings. In this image blue represents light at 1.5 microns (F150W), cyan 1.64 and 2.0 microns (F164N, F200W), yellow 3.23 microns (F323N), orange 4.05 microns (F405N), and red 4.44 microns (F444W). Credit: Science: NASA, ESA, CSA, Mikako Matsuura (Cardiff University), Richard Arendt (NASA-GSFC, UMBC), Claes Fransson (Stockholm University), Josefin Larsson (KTH), Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
LOWER IMAGE....Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) captured this detailed image of SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A), which has been annotated to highlight key structures. At the center, material ejected from the supernova forms a keyhole shape. Just to its left and right are faint crescents newly discovered by Webb. Beyond them an equatorial ring, formed from material ejected tens of thousands of years before the supernova explosion, contains bright hot spots. Exterior to that is diffuse emission and two faint outer rings. In this image blue represents light at 1.5 microns (F150W), cyan 1.64 and 2.0 microns (F164N, F200W), yellow 3.23 microns (F323N), orange 4.05 microns (F405N), and red 4.44 microns (F444W). Credit: Science: NASA, ESA, CSA, Mikako Matsuura (Cardiff University), Richard Arendt (NASA-GSFC, UMBC), Claes Fransson (Stockholm University), Josefin Larsson (KTH), Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
The James Webb Space Telescope has just uncovered multiple free-floating brown dwarfs in the IC 348 star cluster! 🌌 These mysterious objects are larger than most planets but too small to be stars. Three of these brown dwarfs, circled in the image, weigh less than eight times the mass of Jupiter—and the tiniest one is rewriting theories with a mass as low as 3-4 times Jupiter's!
🌠 Marvel at the wonders of space, from the star-forming region to the interstellar material creating this celestial spectacle. This discovery challenges what we thought we knew about star formation.
👉 Discover the full story: link
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured an awe-inspiring image of the Serpens Nebula! This stellar nursery, located 1,300 light-years away, reveals intricate filaments of gas and dust, offering a mesmerizing glimpse into star formation. Explore the universe's wonders with this breathtaking view and dive into the early stages of star birth.
#JamesWebb #NASA #Space #Astronomy #SerpensNebula #StarFormation
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, K. Pontoppidan (NASA’s JPL), J. Green (STScI)
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🌠✨ Did you catch the cosmic spectacle as we waved goodbye to 2023? 🔭🔍 The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) fixed its gaze on the mesmerizing Cigar Galaxy, also known as M82, unraveling celestial secrets on the very last day of the year! 🌌🎇
👀 What's the Buzz? M82, with its elongated shape earning it the nickname "Cigar Galaxy," is a hub of cosmic activity located 12 million light-years away. 🚀💫 The JWST, armed with its infrared prowess, promises to reveal hidden wonders—from intense star formation to the dance of a supermassive black hole at its core. 🌌🔍
🔍 JWST's Superpowers: Why is everyone buzzing about the JWST? 🤔 This space observatory boasts unprecedented sensitivity, infrared capabilities that pierce through cosmic dust, and a massive 21-foot mirror for crystal-clear observations! 🌐✨
💡 Anticipated Discoveries: As the JWST turns its gaze on M82, get ready for a cosmic adventure! 🚀✨ Expect revelations about star formation, insights into the supermassive black hole, and even a peek into the exoplanet neighborhood! 🌟🔭
🎉✨ #SpaceExploration #JWST #CigarGalaxyMagic 🌌🔭
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and James Webb Space Telescope have delivered breathtaking composite images showcasing the beauty of two galaxies, a nebula, and a star cluster. These images, which combine X-rays from Chandra and infrared data from Webb, provide a mesmerizing glimpse into the hidden wonders of the universe.
Invisible to the unaided eye, the X-rays captured by Chandra and the infrared data obtained by Webb are transformed into vibrant colors that humans can perceive. To create these stunning composite images, NASA also incorporated data from other powerful telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the retired Spitzer Space Telescope, the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton, and the European Southern Observatory's New Technology Telescope.
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Never miss another James Webb Discovery. Tracking all the amazing discoveries made by the James Webb Space Telescope at https://www.jameswebbdiscovery.com, Follow now!
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