Webb telescope reveals hidden companion that may sculpt Red Spider Nebula

Webb reveals image of Red Spider Nebula (Image: ESA/Webb/NASA & CSA/J. H. Kastner)

A new observation by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has revealed never-before-seen structures inside the Red Spider Nebula. The view offers the clearest, most complete look at this dramatic stellar remnant.

A Star’s Final Breath: Red Spider Nebula 

The Red Spider Nebula is a classic planetary nebula, created when a Sun-like star reaches the end of its life. The fading star swells into a red giant. It ejects its outer layers and its blazing core becomes exposed. Ultraviolet radiation from the core then lights up the drifting gas, making the nebula glow in vivid colors. This entire transformation marks the final evolutionary stage for stars similar to our Sun.

New Details Unlocked by Scientists

Webb’s infrared vision has now revealed structures that earlier telescopes could not capture. For the first time, scientists can see the full extent of its blue lobes. These lobes are closed, bubble-like formations, stretching diagonally across the nebula.

Each bubble spans nearly 3 light-years, proving the nebula is far larger and more intricate than previously believed. The view also highlights swirling dust, bright ridges, and a glowing central zone shaped by intense stellar winds.

Suspension of a Hidden Companion

Only one bright central star is visible, but astronomers suspect a second, unseen companion. Such a companion could explain the nebula’s striking hourglass shape, with a narrow waist and broad outflows. Binary stars commonly sculpt planetary nebulae into these dramatic forms.

What this study reveals? 

Webb’s clarity is offering new clues about how dying stars modify their surroundings. The Red Spider Nebula now stands as a vivid example of stellar winds, radiation and possible binary activity reshaping space. Researchers now aim to study the nebula’s inner motions, confirm the hidden companion and understand how its giant bubbles formed.