A butterfly has spread its wings across the cosmos, but this one is made of gas and dust. The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a new image of the Butterfly Nebula, revealing details never seen before.
What is the Butterfly Nebula?
The Butterfly Nebula, also called NGC 6302, lies 3,400 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. It is the dying remnant of a star once similar to the Sun. At its centre burns one of the Milky Way’s hottest known stars. This white dwarf reaches temperatures above 220,000 kelvins, nearly 400,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
What did Webb see that Hubble missed?
Hubble earlier revealed the butterfly-like wings and its bright centre. Webb’s infrared vision has now uncovered much more detail. The telescope showed the nebula’s central star clearly for the first time. It also revealed a swirling dusty doughnut of gas around it. Twin energy jets were seen blasting into surrounding space. These new insights expose the chaotic process of stellar death.
Why is this discovery important?
Scientists believe the Butterfly Nebula holds clues about planet formation. Webb detected quartz, iron, nickel and carbon-based molecules in the gas. These include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, also known as PAHs. Researchers think these organic compounds form when hot winds strike the nebula’s gas. Such dust could one day help create rocky planets.
What do scientists say about the findings?
Lead author Mikako Matsuura from Cardiff University shared the significance. She said the telescope showed both calm gemstone-like dust and violent fiery grime. Both types exist together inside the nebula. The team believes studying them will reveal how planetary ingredients recycle in space.
Why is it called a planetary nebula?
The term 'planetary nebula' is a historical mistake. Early astronomers thought these bright, round clouds looked like planets. In reality, they are shells of dying stars. Massive stars fuse heavy elements before finally collapsing or exploding. The expelled material enriches the galaxy with building blocks for new worlds.
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