The new infrared image from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope reveals the complex structure of gas and dust shed by a white dwarf in the center 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 is a planetary nebula located approximately 655 light-years away in the constellation of Aquarius.
First spotted in the early 1800s, it remains a favorite among stargazers and professional astronomers alike due to its relative proximity to Earth, and striking appearance.
“In the image from Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), pillars that look like comets with extended tails trace the circumference of the inner region of an expanding shell of gas,” the Webb astronomers said in a statement.
“Here, blistering winds of hot gas from the dying star are crashing into colder shells of dust and gas that were shed earlier in its life, sculpting the nebula’s remarkable structure.”
“The iconic Helix Nebula has been imaged by many ground- and space-based observatories over the nearly two centuries since it was discovered.”
“Webb’s near-infrared view of the target brings these knots to the forefront compared to the ethereal image 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.
Additionally, the new image shows the stark transition between the hottest gas to the coolest gas as the shell expands out from the Helix Nebula’s central white dwarf, WD 2226-210.
“This blazing white dwarf lies right at the heart of the nebula, out of the frame of the Webb image,” the astronomers said.
“Its intense radiation lights up the surrounding gas, creating a rainbow of features: hot ionized gas closest to the white dwarf, cooler molecular hydrogen farther out, and protective pockets where more complex molecules can begin to form within dust clouds.”
“This interaction is vital, as it’s the raw material from which new planets may one day form in other star systems.”
“In Webb’s image of the Helix Nebula, color represents this temperature and chemistry,” they explained.
“A touch of a blue hue marks the hottest gas in this field, energized by intense ultraviolet light.”
“Farther out, the gas cools into the yellow regions where hydrogen atoms join into molecules.”
“At the outer edges, the reddish tones trace the coolest material, where gas begins to thin and dust can take shape.”
“Together, the colors show the star’s final breath transforming into the raw ingredients for new worlds, adding to the wealth of knowledge gained from Webb about the origin of planets.”
