2023-12-12 08:26:00
Heba Al-Sayed wrote Tuesday, December 12, 2023 10:26 AM
A new image taken by the James Webb Telescope of Cassiopeia A (Cas A), a supernova remnant located 1,000 light-years away, represents a new era in the study of its explosion.
Already in April 2023, the Webb MIRI (Mid Infrared Instrument) revealed new and surprising features within Cas A’s inner shell. Interestingly, many of these features are not visible in the latest image by NIRCam (Near Infrared Camera). of the telescope, while the NIRCam image also appears in lower colors than those provided by MIRI
But according to the researchers, this is simply a result of different wavelengths, and instead of showing less information, the new image actually reveals complex details.
Amazing picture of the James Webb Telescope
The most vibrant colors in the latest Webb image are orange and pink, showing a mixture of gases, cosmic dust, and particles. When compared to the mid-infrared view, the near-infrared view shows Cas A’s inner cavity somewhat colorless, looking like white smoke instead of Having a deep orange-red shade.
Scientists believe that this view actually indicates the place where the supernova’s explosion wave collides with the material surrounding the star. They also concluded that the white color is light synchrotron radiation, resulting from charged particles traveling at extremely high speeds and wrapping around magnetic field lines.
Ionized gases and the progeny of supernovas
Another difference between the two images is that the green light ring in the supernova’s central cavity, which glowed through MIRI, is not visible in the NIRCam image. But while the previously inexplicable “green monster” does not appear in the newest image, it is possible to see circular holes outlined by purple and white emissions, which represent ionized gases.
According to the research team, this is the result of supernova debris rushing through the gas left behind by the star before it exploded.
Meanwhile, NIRCAM revealed a never-before-seen feature: the offspring of the main supernova, called Baby Cas A, in the lower right corner of the camera’s view.
James Webb is not only the largest telescope, but also the most powerful telescope ever sent into space, and has already produced some of the clearest and most dramatic images of stars and galaxies.
1702373680
#James #Webb #produces #stunning #highresolution #image #exploding #star