The Webb Space Telescope recently revealed the gas formation of the Ring Nebula in unprecedented detail by imaging it with its two main cameras. Since its launch, Webb, which has made countless contributions to astronomy, showcases stunning images that reveal hydrogen-rich knots filled with hot gas both in the cloud and its inner regions within the nebula.
The Webb Space Telescope captured the Ring Nebula
First discovered in 1779, the nebula was imaged by Webb’s Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and its Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI); these images showcase different aspects of the structure and composition of the planetary nebula. The new NIRCam image highlights features of the inner ring structure, while the MIRI image adds details to the outer features of the nebula.
A nebula is a celestial structure in space composed of cosmic dust, hydrogen, helium, and other ionized gases that have spread across large areas. Once a term that encompassed widespread celestial objects including galaxies, the advancement of astronomy led to distinct usage of ‘galaxy’ and ‘nebula’.
Famously known as the ‘Ring Nebula’, it is a planetary nebula situated in the Lyra constellation, listed in catalogs as Messier 57, M57, or NGC 6720. Being one of the brightest planetary nebulae in the sky, the Ring Nebula can be observed even with a small telescope. However, capturing such detailed and high-quality photographs as the one you mentioned requires specialized equipment.
According to the explanation provided by the European Space Agency, the nebula has a ring-like structure with a combination of gas and dust in the center, forming a shape resembling a rugby ball in the nebula’s cavity. According to NASA, many nebulae form as stars die, and some nebulae are regions where new stars are born.
The Ring Nebula is located approximately 2,500 light-years away from Earth. Its main ring is composed of gas expelled outward from a dying star at the core of the nebula. Our own Sun could potentially have a nebula when it finally concludes its life cycle in around five billion years.
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