The James Webb Space Telescope has made an exciting discovery: a stunning mid-infrared image revealing four spiraling dust shells around a system of stars called Apep. This system is named after the Egyptian god of chaos, and it showcases a precise pattern of dust expansion that researchers had only speculated about before. Previously, only one shell was detected, but Webb’s technology has opened up new avenues of observation.
Using data from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, scientists found that the two Wolf-Rayet stars in Apep orbit each other every 190 years. During the 25 years they come near each other, they generate ash-like clouds of carbon-rich dust.
Notably, this system includes a third star—a massive supergiant—playing a crucial role in shaping the dust. Its gravitational influence creates holes in the expanding clouds. In Webb’s image, all three stars appear as a single, bright light point.
Yinuo Han, a lead researcher from Caltech, described the new images as illuminating previously hidden details. With Webb’s advanced capabilities, the dust clouds show intricate structures that were undetectable before. “There’s dust everywhere,” he explained. The dust consists mainly of amorphous carbon, making it easier for Webb to pick up its faint light.
In Apep, the two Wolf-Rayet stars can reach speeds of 1,200 to 2,000 miles per second when they collide, producing a dense area of dust around them. This reaction is much longer than in other known systems, where dust is expelled over a few months. This unique characteristic adds to the rarity of Apep.
Wolf-Rayet stars are uncommon, with only about a thousand believed to exist in the Milky Way, which has hundreds of billions of stars. Most star systems contain just one Wolf-Rayet, making Apep a standout case. The stars in Apep could eventually explode into supernovae, scattering their materials across space and possibly forming black holes later.
Experts are excited about what these discoveries mean for our understanding of stellar evolution. Upcoming observations may shed light on how far these stars are from Earth, paving the way for further exploration of their mysteries.
The James Webb Space Telescope, operated by NASA alongside partners like the European Space Agency, continues to be a key player in unraveling the complexities of our universe, from observing distant worlds to examining cosmic phenomena. This mission not only enhances scientific knowledge but also fires the imagination of star watchers everywhere.
For more on the James Webb mission, check out NASA’s official page: NASA Webb Telescope.
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James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Nebulae, Stars
