A small crescent-like structure is clearly visible.
NASA‘s james webb space telescope revealed new details of supernova 1987A using the NIRCam (near-infrared camera) instrument. Some structures are only visible in infrared wavelengths, providing clues to the development of a supernova over time.
Webb Space Telescope reveals new structure inside iconic supernova
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has begun studying one of the most famous supernovae, SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). Located 168,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, SN 1987A was discovered in February 1987 and has been the subject of intensive observations at wavelengths ranging from gamma rays to radio waves for almost 40 years. . Infrared cameras) provide important clues to understanding how supernovae develop over time and form their remnants.
Main observational features
This image reveals a keyhole-like central structure. Its center is filled with chunks of gas and dust ejected by supernova explosions. The dust is so dense that even the near-infrared light that Webb detected cannot penetrate it, forming a dark “hole” in the keyhole.
This time-lapse sequence hubble space telescopeThe Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 and Advanced Camera for Surveys show changes in the ring of material surrounding an exploding star called supernova 1987A. This spectacular light show was visible from September 24, 1994 to November 28, 2003, and is the collision of debris with the gas ring surrounding the explosion site. Credit: NASA and L. Barranger (STScI). Image: NASA, P. Challis, R. Kirshner (Harvard-Smithsonian) CFA), B. Sugarman (STScI)
A bright equatorial ring surrounds the inner keyhole and forms a band around the waist that connects the two faint arms of the hourglass-shaped outer ring. The equatorial ring is formed from material ejected tens of thousands of years before a supernova explosion, and contains bright hotspots that appeared when the supernova’s shock wave hit the ring (see video above). Spots are now also found outside the ring, with diffuse radiation surrounding the ring. These are the locations of supernova impacts that hit more of the cladding.
Comparative insights and new discoveries
These structures have been observed to varying degrees by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and Chandra X-ray Observatory, but Webb’s unparalleled sensitivity and spatial resolution allowed us to identify new features of this supernova remnant, viz. A small crescent-like structure was revealed. These crescents are thought to be part of the outer layer of gas ejected during a supernova explosion. Their brightness may be indicative of limb brightness, an optical phenomenon caused by observing expanding matter in three dimensions. In other words, the angle we view it from makes it seem like there’s more material inside these two crescents than there actually is.
The high resolution of these images is also noteworthy. Before Webb, the now-retired Spitzer telescope observed this supernova in the infrared throughout its life, yielding important data on how its emission evolved over time.But it could never be done Observe Super clear and detailed supernova.
Unraveling the mystery and future research
Despite decades of research since the first discovery of supernovae, some mysteries remain, especially about supernovae. neutron star It was supposed to form in the aftermath of a supernova explosion.
Like Spitzer, Webb will continue to observe supernovae for a long time. His NIRSpec (Near Infrared Spectrometer) and his MIRI (Mid Infrared Instrument) instruments have provided astronomers with new high-fidelity infrared data captured over long periods of time about newly identified crescent structures. Provides the ability to gain new insights. In addition, Webb will continue to work with Hubble, Chandra, and other observatories to provide new insights into the past and future of this legendary supernova.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb unravels the mysteries of our solar system, looks to distant worlds around other stars, and investigates the mysterious structure and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA and its partner ESA (european space agency) and the Canadian Space Agency.