The Butterfly Nebula, photographed by the James Webb Observatory
(Photo: ESA/Webb, NASA and CSA, M. Matsuura, ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), N. Hirano, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb))
Farewell, feathered inhabitants of space – the James Webb telescope has switched from ornithology to entomology, as confirmed by a stunning new image of the Butterfly Nebula.
The Butterfly Nebula (officially NGC 6302), located about 3,400 light-years away toward the constellation Scorpius, is the final chord of a fading star. At its heart lies one of the hottest white dwarfs in the Milky Way, the remnant of a sun-like star whose temperature exceeds 220,000 kelvins (about 400,000°F). As the star gradually completes its life cycle, it ejects its outer shells, forming two petals of ionized gas that resemble the glowing “wings” of a butterfly.
Previously, the object was studied by the Hubble Space Telescope, which recorded the structure of gas wings and a bright core. However, infrared observations by JWST revealed new details: the clear outline of the central star, a ring-shaped dust cloud around it, and energy flows rushing into space.
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JWST research not only expands our knowledge of stellar evolution, but also helps scientists study the redistribution of materials that form Earth-like planets.
“This discovery represents a significant advance in understanding the origins of planetary materials,” said Mikako Matsuura, an astrophysicist at Cardiff University. “We were able to identify both cold crystalline structures in stable zones and high-temperature compounds in dynamic regions, all within a single cosmic object.”
Comparison of images of NGC 6302: optical images from Hubble (left and center) and infrared image from JWST.
NGC 6302 is classified as a planetary nebula, a historical name given to its resemblance to the disks of planets seen in early telescopes. In reality, it is the dramatic end of a star ending its life cycle.
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When massive stars die, heavy elements are synthesized in their cores and dispersed into space. JWST analysis found quartz, iron, nickel, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the nebula.
Scientists suggest that these compounds are formed by the interaction of stellar wind with surrounding gas. Such particles may in the future form the basis for the formation of solid planets.
The results of the study were published on August 27 in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
TAGS James Webb Space Telescope
Brandon SpectorEditor of Popular Science Content
Brandon leads the Space/Physics team at Live Science. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, CBS.com, and more. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Science Journalism. His main interests include astrophysics, Earth science, and the mysteries of the universe.
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