An unprecedented infrared depiction captured by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope offers a detailed view of the intricate patterns of gas and particulate matter expelled by a white dwarf star situated at the core of the Helix Nebula.
This Webb image shows a portion of the Helix Nebula. Image credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / A. Pagan, STScI.
The Helix Nebula, a celestial formation known as a planetary nebula, is situated approximately 655 light-years distant, residing within the celestial sphere of the constellation Aquarius.
Initially observed during the initial decades of the 19th century, this nebula continues to be a source of fascination for both amateur stargazers and professional astrophysicists, primarily due to its relative closeness to our planet and its visually arresting characteristics.
“Within the imagery generated by Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument, prominent structures resembling comets with elongated tails delineate the inner boundary of an expanding shell of interstellar gas,” according to a statement released by the Webb research team.
“Here, intense streams of superheated gas emanating from the aging star are colliding with cooler formations of dust and gas that were previously ejected during earlier stages of its existence, consequently shaping the nebula’s distinctive configuration.”
“The universally recognized Helix Nebula has been the subject of photographic capture by numerous terrestrial and orbital observatories throughout the nearly two centuries that have passed since its initial discovery.”
“Webb’s perspective in the near-infrared spectrum allows these dense knots to be rendered with greater prominence when contrasted with the ethereal representation previously obtained from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.”
This image from the Visible and Infrared Telescope for Astronomy (left) shows the full view of the Helix Nebula, with a box highlighting the smaller field of view from Webb’s NIRCam instrument (right). Image credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / A. Pagan, STScI.
Furthermore, the recently acquired imaging data illustrates the pronounced demarcation between the highest-temperature gases and the cooler ones as the shell expands outward from the protoplanetary nebula’s core, identified as the white dwarf WD 2226-210.
“This intensely radiant white dwarf is situated precisely at the nucleus of the nebula, extending beyond the visual scope of the Webb observation,” the astronomers stated.
“Its considerable emitted radiation illuminates the surrounding gaseous medium, creating a spectrum of visual phenomena: highly ionized gas in proximity to the white dwarf, cooler molecular hydrogen at greater distances, and insulated regions where more intricate molecular structures are capable of initiating their development within dust formations.”
“This interplay is of paramount importance, as it constitutes the fundamental material from which new planetary bodies may eventually originate in extraterrestrial star systems.”
“In the Webb depiction of the Helix Nebula, color serves as an indicator of temperature and chemical composition,” they elaborated.
“A subtle blue tint signifies the presence of the hottest gases within this area, energized by potent ultraviolet radiation.”
“Further out, the gas cools and transitions into yellow zones where hydrogen atoms coalesce into molecular forms.”
“At the external perimeters, reddish hues represent the coolest constituents, where the gas density diminishes and particulate matter begins to aggregate.”
“Collectively, these coloration variations reveal the dying star’s ultimate effluence transforming into the foundational elements for nascent worlds, thereby contributing to the extensive body of knowledge Webb has provided regarding planetary genesis.”
