The European Space Agency (ESA) presented a new image obtained using space
Cassiopeia A is one of the youngest knownremnants formed as a result of a supernova explosion, which ended the evolution of a star located in the constellation Cassiopeia. Its diameter is about 10 light years and it is located at a distance of about 11 thousand light years from Earth.
Cassiopeia A in a combined image,created using observations from the Webb and Hubble telescopes (left) and an image taken only by the Hubble telescope (right). Images: NASA, ESA, CSA, D. Milisavljevic (Purdue University), T. Temim (Princeton University), I. De Looze (UGent), J. DePasquale (STScI), the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/ Hubble Collaboration
To create a new image, the researchersconverted the data obtained in the infrared range into the colors of the visible spectrum. On the outside of the explosion bubble, especially at the top and left of the image, curtains of material are visible that appear orange and red due to warm dust emission. This is where material from an exploding star crashes into the surrounding circumstellar gas and dust.
Inside this outer shell lie variegated threadsbright pink, dotted with clusters and nodes. This is the material of the star itself, which shines due to a mixture of various heavy elements such as oxygen, argon and neon, as well as the emission of dust. Stellar material can also be seen in fainter beams near the interior of the cavity.
MIRI image of Cassiopeia Athe James Webb telescope. Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, D. Milisavljevic (Purdue University), T. Temim (Princeton University), I. De Looze (UGent), J. DePasquale (STScI)
The vibrant colors of the new image contain a hugethe amount of scientific information that researchers are just beginning to extract. By studying the remnant of Cassiopeia A, astronomers hope to gain insight into its dust content, which could help understand where the building blocks that form planets are made.
Supernovae like the one that formedCassiopeia A, are critical to life as we know it. They distribute elements such as calcium, which makes up most of the bone material, and iron, which determines the properties of blood, throughout interstellar space.
Read more:
Special diet triggers self-destruction of brain cancer cells in mice
Scientists have deciphered the mysterious manuscript of Ptolemy. It was hidden under other text
New image of Hubble puzzled scientists