{"id":15072,"date":"2022-07-12T19:57:09","date_gmt":"2022-07-12T17:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=123053"},"modified":"2022-07-12T20:14:11","modified_gmt":"2022-07-12T18:14:11","slug":"james-webb-space-telescope-images-dying-stars-distant-galaxies-and-water-on-an-exoplanet","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/james-webb-space-telescope-images-dying-stars-distant-galaxies-and-water-on-an-exoplanet\/","title":{"rendered":"James Webb Space Telescope images: Dying stars, distant galaxies and water on an exoplanet"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By James Cutmore\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 12 July 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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After what feels like an eternity of waiting, scientists at NASA, ESA and CSA have shared the first batch of full-colour images produced by the James Webb Space Telescope<\/a> (JWST).<\/p>\n

The team have released 4 images: a deep-field image which has captured a fragment of the night-sky, a dying star, a set of merging galaxies, and a nebula where stars are born. The presentation revealed that they were able to identify water, in the form of steam, on an exoplanet 1120 light years away.<\/p>\n

These first few images are a taste of what\u2019s to come. Each is an example of a different area of study that the space observatory will be able to provide new insight on: Exoplanets, star formation (and death), the early Universe and how galaxy forms. And of course there were a few surprises or \u201ceaster eggs\u201d as NASA called them thrown in for good measure.<\/p>\n

WASP-96 b<\/h2>\n
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Photo by NASA\/ESA\/CSA\/STScI<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Unlike the other images released that show snapshots of space, this image from the JWST team is a light curve, in the form of a graph. But don\u2019t let that fool you; it reveals exciting new details about the atmospheric composition of WASP-96b, a hot gas giant exoplanet with a mass similar to that of Saturn.<\/p>\n

Orbiting a Sun-like star roughly 1120 light-years from Earth, the JWST has identified water in the form of vapour, hazes and even evidence of clouds. WASP-96b has a steamy atmosphere, and this data represents the most detailed exoplanet spectrum to date.<\/p>\n

Star death<\/h2>\n
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The bright star at the center of NGC 3132, while prominent when viewed by NASA\u2019s Webb Telescope in near-infrared light, plays a supporting role in sculpting the surrounding nebula. A second star, barely visible at lower left along one of the bright star\u2019s diffraction spikes, is the nebula\u2019s source. Photo by NASA\/ESA\/CSA\/STScI<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

This beautifully crisp image was taken with JWST\u2019s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and is of the Southern Ring Nebula.<\/p>\n

At the centre of the nebula is a dying star, seen here shining a brilliant blue. It\u2019s actively expelling gas and dust with immense power, and this is what we can see as the orange, foam-like waves.<\/p>\n

Most stars, including our own, will end in with a nebula that looks a lot like this one.<\/p>\n

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Photo by NASA\/ESA\/CSA\/STScI<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

This image of the Southern Ring Nebula, this time taken using the Mid-Infrared instrument (MIRI), has helped astronomers capture details previously shrouded in dust.<\/p>\n

It allows us to see light in the mid-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and with this instrument, the team have identified a second star surrounded by dust; the Southern Ring Nebula is binary system.<\/p>\n

The red star, in the centre on the left, is a hot, dense, white dwarf star which has periodically ejected mass. The other, a blue star to the right, has helped to stir up this ejected material. Both stars orbit each other, mixing gas and dust to create these asymmetrical patterns seen in this image.<\/p>\n

Why is the red star still shrouded in dust? We don\u2019t yet know, but we hope to find out.<\/p>\n

More images from Science Focus<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n