Starship Asterisk*

AVAO wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2024 8:36 pm

Ann wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2024 5:22 pm

AVAO wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2024 3:29 pm

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2022 October 13

Dust Shells around WR 140 from Webb

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, JWST, MIRI, ERS Program 1349; Processing: Judy Schmidt

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What are those strange rings? Rich in dust, the rings are likely 3D shells -- but how they were created remains a topic of research. Where they were created is well known: in a binary star system that lies about 6,000 light years away toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus) -- a system dominated by the Wolf-Rayet star WR 140. Wolf-Rayet stars are massive, bright, and known for their tumultuous winds. They are also known for creating and dispersing heavy elements such as carbon which is a building block of interstellar dust. The other star in the binary is also bright and massive -- but not as active. The two great stars joust in an oblong orbit as they approach each other about every eight years. When at closest approach, the X-ray emission from the system increases, as, apparently, does the dust expelled into space -- creating another shell. The featured infrared image by the new Webb Space Telescope resolves greater details and more dust shells than ever before. [/url]. APODTJWST

Discussion

Thank you, Jac, for re-posting this gorgeous image by JWST, processed by Judy Schmidt, Geckzilla!

Ann

It is astonishing how far the shock fronts move in just 14 months - 2022-07-27 (color) and 2023-09-08 (black & white).
Simply move the mouse pointer over the image and repeat this faster and faster. Then you will notice the effect more and more clearly.

Click to view full size image 1 or image 2

jac berne (flickr)

Ann wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2024 5:22 pm

AVAO wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2024 3:29 pm

---

2022 October 13

Dust Shells around WR 140 from Webb

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, JWST, MIRI, ERS Program 1349; Processing: Judy Schmidt

---

What are those strange rings? Rich in dust, the rings are likely 3D shells -- but how they were created remains a topic of research. Where they were created is well known: in a binary star system that lies about 6,000 light years away toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus) -- a system dominated by the Wolf-Rayet star WR 140. Wolf-Rayet stars are massive, bright, and known for their tumultuous winds. They are also known for creating and dispersing heavy elements such as carbon which is a building block of interstellar dust. The other star in the binary is also bright and massive -- but not as active. The two great stars joust in an oblong orbit as they approach each other about every eight years. When at closest approach, the X-ray emission from the system increases, as, apparently, does the dust expelled into space -- creating another shell. The featured infrared image by the new Webb Space Telescope resolves greater details and more dust shells than ever before. [/url]. APODTJWST

Discussion

Thank you, Jac, for re-posting this gorgeous image by JWST, processed by Judy Schmidt, Geckzilla!

Ann

AVAO wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2024 3:29 pm

---

2022 October 13

Dust Shells around WR 140 from Webb

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, JWST, MIRI, ERS Program 1349; Processing: Judy Schmidt

---

What are those strange rings? Rich in dust, the rings are likely 3D shells -- but how they were created remains a topic of research. Where they were created is well known: in a binary star system that lies about 6,000 light years away toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus) -- a system dominated by the Wolf-Rayet star WR 140. Wolf-Rayet stars are massive, bright, and known for their tumultuous winds. They are also known for creating and dispersing heavy elements such as carbon which is a building block of interstellar dust. The other star in the binary is also bright and massive -- but not as active. The two great stars joust in an oblong orbit as they approach each other about every eight years. When at closest approach, the X-ray emission from the system increases, as, apparently, does the dust expelled into space -- creating another shell. The featured infrared image by the new Webb Space Telescope resolves greater details and more dust shells than ever before. [/url]. APODTJWST

Discussion