A striking new depiction from the SPHERE instrument, designed for Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet Research, aboard ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), showcases the intricate dynamics of expelled gas and dust from two celestial bodies within the AFGL 4106 stellar system.
The physical and morphological characteristics of the binary system AFGL 4106, which consists of two evolved massive stars, were characterized by Tomassini et al. Image credit: ESO / Tomassini et al.
As stars approach their demise, they eject substantial quantities of gas and particulate matter, which serve as the building blocks for developing nebulae, according to Dr. Gabriel Tomassini of the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur and his collaborators.
“The massive stars constituting the AFGL 4106 system, as depicted, are in adjacent yet discernible late stages of their evolutionary trajectories, with one having shed sufficient material to form an enveloping shellrich in dust,” the researchers stated.
In their recent publication, the researchers meticulously charted these ejected remnants and precisely defined the central stars within the AFGL 4106 system.
“The endeavor to image astronomical entities situated in close proximity to stars presents a considerable challenge due to the overwhelming brilliance emanating from the star itself. In fact, these stars are rendered as dark silhouettes because their luminosity overwhelmed the detector of the instrument used for this imaging,” they explained.
“Fortunately, the VLT’s SPHERE instrument is exceptionally adept at handling vast disparities in luminous intensity. This capability has facilitated an unprecedentedly detailed examination of both the intensely luminous stars and the faintly glowing surrounding nebula.”
“Furthermore, it possesses the capacity to counteract image distortion caused by atmospheric disturbances, thereby yielding remarkably sharp visual representations.”
The configuration of the nebula clearly illustrates the profound influence exerted by the stellar companion on the gas expulsion process of the dying star, introducing asymmetries and displacing the gaseous and dusty clouds from a perfectly symmetrical form.
“Our comprehensive analysis has established definitive parameters for the physical attributes and developmental stage of the system,” the astronomical team concluded.
“This investigation significantly advances our comprehension of mass-loss mechanisms in binary star systems of considerable magnitude and the processes that sculpt nebulae around stars in their later life phases.”
The findings have been published in the esteemed journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
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G. Tomassini et al. 2026. Characterising the post-red supergiant binary system AFGL 4106 and its complex nebula with SPHERE/VLT. A&A 706, A5; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202557705
