Earth is having some issues, so let's enjoy the Webb telescope's new nebula image
Engadget • • general
Key Points:
- The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured a stunning new high-resolution image of the Helix Nebula, one of Earth's closest planetary nebulae located about 655 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius.
- The Helix Nebula, often called the Eye of God or Eye of Sauron, represents a dying star shedding its outer layers, with expelled gas and dust cooling to potentially form new stars and planetary systems.
- JWST’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) reveals detailed structures called cometary knots, where hot gas from the dying star collides with cooler shells of dust and gas, shaping the nebula's intricate form.
- The colors in the image indicate temperature and chemical composition
