Science
James Webb Telescope Captures Stunning ‘Cosmic Tornado’ with Unexpected Findings
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has recently photographed an amazing phenomenon in space. This picture shows an explosion of hot gas from a newborn star, which astronomers have named “Cosmic Tornado.” This phenomenon is taking place in the Chameleon constellation, located about 625 light-years from Earth.
Herbig-Haro 49/50: A mysterious space phenomenon
This glowing gaseous structure is known as Herbig-Haro 49/50 (HH 49/50). It has been captured by the James Webb Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument). The colors shown in this picture actually represent wavelengths of infrared light, which are not visible to normal eyes.
Herbig-Haro Objects are very bright, nebula-like structures that form when ionized gas from newborn stars collides with dust and gas already present in space. This collision causes the gas to become very hot and glow, forming their distinctive shape like puffed clouds.
Importance of Herbig-Haro Objects
Herbig-Haro objects are very special to astronomers because they help them understand the process of formation of newborn stars. These structures are usually found in star-forming regions, i.e., areas where new stars are being born. They change very quickly and their shape can change in just a few years or decades.
How were they discovered?
They were first observed in the late 19th century but were identified as a separate category in the 1940s by astronomers George Herbig and Guillermo Haro. So far, more than 1,000 Herbig-Haro objects have been discovered in our galaxy.
Discovery of ‘Cosmic Tornado’ and its specialty
HH 49/50 was first discovered by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope in 2006 and was named “Cosmic Tornado” because its shape resembles a tornado. It is located in the Cameleon I cloud complex, one of the closest star formation regions to Earth.
Astronomers believe that this is the same type of environment where our Sun was formed 4 billion years ago. That is why this discovery will help in understanding how our solar system may have originated.
Gas flows in HH 49/50 and the star behind it
The latest JWST images show HH 49/50 emitting arc-shaped shock waves of gas, suggesting that the gas is being ejected from a newborn star.
According to NASA, the gas is being ejected at speeds of 100 to 300 km per second. It is only a fraction of a larger mass of HH 49/50.
Scientists believe the source of this gas flow is a newborn star, Cederblad 110 IRS4, located about 1.5 light-years from HH 49/50. The star is classified as a Class I protostar, meaning it is about 100,000 years old and still wrapped in a thick blanket of gas and dust.
What did we learn from HH 49/50?
The image of HH 49/50 helps scientists understand how small stars are formed and how their jet flows affect the environment around them.
Another interesting discovery has been made in the new images obtained from JWST. Earlier, pictures taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope showed a fuzzy object on top of HH 49/50. Earlier scientists were thinking of it as part of this gaseous structure, but clear images from JWST revealed that it is actually a distant spiral galaxy!
What is the significance of this discovery in the future?
Studying events like HH 49/50 helps scientists understand how newborn stars evolve and how they affect the area around them.
- This will help us know how stars like our Sun are born.
- Herbig-Haro objects also tell how stars shape the gas around them when they are forming.
- This is another example of JWST’s extraordinary ability to see things unseen in space.
Conclusion
This amazing image of HH 49/50 taken by the James Webb Space Telescope gives a glimpse into the process of star formation in space. Structures like the “cosmic tornado” are extremely important to astronomers because they tell the story of star birth and their evolution.
This discovery can help us understand how our Sun and our solar system may have formed. Also, it proves that the universe is still full of mysteries, which we have to keep exploring to know.
FAQs
Q. What is the “cosmic tornado” discovered by the James Webb Telescope?
A. The “cosmic tornado” is a gas outflow from a newborn star, known as Herbig-Haro 49/50, located 625 light-years away.
Q. Why is Herbig-Haro 49/50 important?
A. It helps astronomers study how young stars form and how their jets interact with surrounding space.
Q. How fast is the gas moving in HH 49/50?
A. The gas is moving at speeds of 100-300 km per second (60-190 miles per second).
Q. What did JWST reveal that previous telescopes missed?
A. JWST discovered that a previously seen fuzzy object near HH 49/50 is actually a distant spiral galaxy.
Q. How does this discovery relate to our Sun?
A. HH 49/50 is in a star-forming region similar to where our Sun was born over 4 billion years ago.
