Bright, fuzzy structure surrounding a newborn star detected using the James Webb Space Telescope – Mercato

Astronomers have discovered a bright, hazy structure surrounding a newborn star in a “cradle” of gas and dust, thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The astronomical object called “Herbig Harrow 797” (HH 797) is located near the young open star cluster IC 348, 1,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Perseus.

Harrow objects are bright regions surrounding newborn stars and are formed when jets of gas ejected by protostars collide at high speeds with nearby clouds of dust and gas. Scientists were able to observe HH 797 with the James Webb Telescope’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) instrument.

By looking at the newborn star with NIRCam, the James Webb Telescope revealed particles that had been heated to thousands of degrees as a result of the collisions, allowing astronomers to determine the structures of the outflows from the newborn stars. Scientists also noticed that the gas at the eastern edge of HH 797 is more redshifted than the gas at the western edge.

In the new image obtained by James Webb, it can be seen that this object consists of a pair of nearly parallel jets, each causing its own series of shocks, which could explain the asymmetry in gas velocities around HH 797. The discovery of this structure indicates The bright haze indicates that there are two stars in the region instead of one, each expelling its own jet of gas.

The discovery of this amazing hazy structure around a newborn star is an important addition to our understanding of star formation and evolution. Infrared instruments like NIRCam are ideal for studying young stars and exploring Harrow objects, as gas and dust absorb other wavelengths of light emitted by these stars, helping us see the hazy structures surrounding them.

FAQ:
1. What is the James Webb Space Telescope?
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope used to study planets, stars, and galaxies in space. The James Webb Telescope is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and is a huge development in astronomical imaging technology.

2. What are Herbig Harrow objects?
Harrow objects are bright regions surrounding newborn stars and are formed when jets of gas ejected by protostars collide at high speeds with nearby clouds of dust and gas.

3. How does the James Webb Telescope help study young stars?
The James Webb Telescope uses infrared instruments like NIRCam to study young stars and explore Herbig Harrow objects. Gas and dust absorb other wavelengths of light from these stars, helping us see the hazy structures surrounding them.

4. What is the scientific significance of the discovery of a nebulous structure around a newborn star?
The discovery of the bright, fuzzy structure around a newborn star advances our understanding of star formation and evolution in the universe. It also represents an important addition to astronomers’ research in the field of star formation and the physical processes associated with it.

Source: NASA (