Webb telescopes provides unprecedented, detailed insight into a supernova
The James Webb Space Telescope unveils the captivating mystery of Cassiopeia A, offering an extraordinary glimpse into the remnants of an ancient supernova Witness a groundbreaking exploration into the depths of an exploded star like never before
Subscribe to CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter and delve into the universe with updates on captivating discoveries, scientific progress, and more. One of these intriguing phenomena is the Cassiopeia A, a glowing supernova remnant that was formed when a star in our galaxy exploded thousands of years ago, captivating scientists for decades.
A recent image captured by the James Webb Space Telescope offers a closer and more detailed glimpse inside an exploded star, providing valuable insight for astronomers. Examining the photo could potentially enhance our understanding of the mechanisms behind these dramatic celestial events. Additionally, the space observatory has enabled astronomers to uncover enigmatic features not previously seen in images taken by other telescopes or instruments such as Hubble, Chandra, Spitzer, or Webb's other tools.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden shared a new image on Monday, revealing the first-ever digital White House Advent Calendar. The calendar features Webb's captivating new perspective of Cassiopeia A, resembling a shining Christmas ornament.
According to astronomer Dan Milisavljevic, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Purdue University, "We've never had this kind of look at an exploded star before. Supernovae are primary drivers of cosmological evolution. The energies, their chemical abundance- there is so much that depends on our understanding of supernovae. This is the closest look we've had at a supernova in our galaxy."
Behold, a glimpse into the bustling heart of our galactic metropolis. Behold a fresh, infrared perspective captured by the Spitzer Space Telescope, showcasing the frenetic activity at the core of our Milky Way, penetrating the veil of dust to reveal its secrets.
NASA/Caltech/Solange V. Ramirez (NExScI; Caltech)
New details on a mysterious Milky Way region called The Brick reveal its even stranger than scientists thought
The remnants of a star that exploded as a supernova 10,000 years ago are now swirling clouds of gas and dust. Cassiopeia A is situated 11,000 light-years away in the Cassiopeia constellation, where a light-year is the distance light travels in one year, equivalent to 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion kilometers).
The light emitted by Cassiopeia A reached Earth approximately 340 years ago, making it the youngest known supernova remnant in our galaxy. This celestial object, which has been extensively examined by both ground and space telescopes, spans about 10 light-years, or a distance of 60 trillion miles (96.6 trillion kilometers).
Insights from Cas A, as the remnant is also known, allow scientists to learn more about the life cycle of stars.
Seeing Cas A in a new light
Astronomers utilized Web's Near-Infrared Camera, known as NIRCam, to capture the supernova remnant using different wavelengths of light compared to previous observations. The resulting image reveals unparalleled details of the collision between the expanding shell of material from the supernova and the gas released by the star before its explosion.
However, the image taken using Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument, or MIRI, in April looks entirely distinct. Both images highlight specific features that are not visible in the other.
Webb utilizes infrared light to observe the universe, making the invisible visible. Scientists transform the telescope's data into a colorful spectrum for human viewing.
In the latest NIRCam image, vibrant orange and light pink hues illuminate the inner shell of the supernova remnant. These colors represent gaseous clusters of elements expelled by the star, such as oxygen, argon, neon, and sulfur, with intermixed dust and molecules. Ultimately, these components will converge to create future stars and planets.
There are approximately 500,000 stars in this image of the Sagittarius C region of the Milky Way. The bright cyan area contains emissions from ionized hydrogen.
NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI
Webb telescope captures never-before-seen glimpse of the heart of the Milky Way
Studying the remnants enables scientists to piece together the events of the supernova.
"Thanks to the resolution of NIRCams, we can finally see the complete destruction of the dying star when it exploded, leaving behind filaments resembling tiny shards of glass," commented Milisavljevic. "It's truly remarkable to finally be able to resolve these details after so many years of studying Cas A, and they are offering us a new and transformative understanding of the supernova."
Comparison of the NIRCam and MIRI images taken in April reveals a new perspective that appears less vibrant. The vivid orange and red swirls from the April image appear hazy when viewed through the lens of NIRCam, indicating the impact of the supernova shock wave on the surrounding material.
The white light in the NIRCam image is due to synchrotron radiation, which is created when charged particles accelerate and travel around magnetic field lines.
Astronomers spied previously unseen details in the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A using the Webb telescope's Near-Infrared Camera (left) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (right).
NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI
The NIRCam view lacks the "Green Monster" seen in the MIRI image - a mysterious circle of green light at the center of the remnants that has baffled astronomers. However, the near-infrared image reveals new details, showing circular holes surrounded by white and purple, revealing charged particles and shaping the gas shed by the star before its explosion.
The NIRCam image also captures a new feature known as Baby Cas A, a blob located in the bottom right corner that appears to be a smaller version of the larger supernova remnant. This feature is situated 170 light-years behind Cassiopeia A. Baby Cas A is identified as a light echo, where the light from the supernova interacted with dust, causing it to heat up. The glowing dust continues to radiate as it gradually cools over time.
Milisavljevic, who led a project team that contributed to the new image, expressed astonishment at the discovery. "Some completely new features have emerged that will revolutionize our understanding of stellar life cycles," he said.
