New Webb Telescope photos show off the Exposed Cranium Nebula
Source: Engadget
Overview
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has released a new pair of images featuring the aptly named Exposed Cranium Nebula (officially Nebula PMR 1). The nebula’s brain‑like shape offers a glimpse into the final stages of a star’s life and hints at the processes that sculpted its distinctive form.
Nebula Structure
According to NASA’s blog post:
- The nebula shows distinct regions representing different evolutionary phases.
- An outer shell of gas, primarily hydrogen, was expelled first.
- An inner cloud exhibits more structure and contains a mixture of various gases.
A dark vertical line runs through the nebula, giving it a cranial appearance. This feature may result from an outburst or outflow from the central star, typically manifesting as twin jets that burst in opposite directions.
Instruments Used
- Near‑Infrared Camera (NIRCam)
- Mid‑Infrared Instrument (MIRI)
Both instruments aboard Webb captured the detailed imagery of the nebula.
Source
This article originally appeared on Engadget:
https://www.engadget.com/science/space/new-webb-telescope-photos-show-off-the-exposed-cranium-nebula-235609619.html?src=rss