A cosmic Halloween treat: NASA's James Webb telescope reveals eerie Red Spider nebula

Global Desk Scientists have revealed a mesmerizing latest image of a “cosmic creepy crawly” just in time for Halloween. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has disclosed never-before-seen data of the eerie Red Spider Nebula, a haunting structure situated almost 3,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.Spotted via JWST’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), the stunning image showcases the nebula glowing vividly against a sea of thousands of stars. At the centre of this celestial marvel shines its central star, illuminating just brighter than the web-like strands of ionized gas that swirl in it.Dr. Mikako Matsuura of Cardiff University’s School of Physics and Astronomy described,“Out in the darkness of the Universe there are many eerie and ghostly nebulae. Among the many so-called ‘spider nebulae,’ one stands out for its chilling resemblance to a cosmic creature – the Red Spider Nebula, whose twisted filaments stretch like the legs of a celestial arachnid.”Dying Star’s Final PerformanceThe Red Spider Nebula is a planetary nebula, formed when a Sun-like star reaches the conclusion of its life. As these stars extend into cool red giants, they shed their exterior layers into space, showcasing a hot core. The ultraviolet radiation from this core ionizes the expelled gases, making them glow and form stunning structures such as the “legs” of the Red Spider.Live EventsWebb’s powerful imaging has, for the initial time, disclosed the complete extent of these massive lobes, closed, bubble-like types stretching approximately three light-years each. These wide formations are believed to have been expanded over millennia by streams of gas bursting from the nebula’s heart.The Mystery at the Nebula’s HeartAlthough only a single star is visible in the nebula’s center, researchers suspect a concealed companion star may also reside there. This hidden partner could describe the nebula’s narrow waist and wide, extended lobes.Dr. Matsuura stated,“The legs are hairy and shine with molecular hydrogen emission, which have escaped from the torus (doughnut-shaped ring). It is still unclear why the outflows appear ‘hairy’. One possibility is that the outflow from the primary star was not continuous, perhaps because mass transfer from the companion star affected the timing of the outflow.”“Another possibility is that the outflow interacted with the surrounding interstellar medium. Since the interstellar gas is not uniform to begin with, such interactions could cause the outflow to fragment, creating the hair-like structures along the legs.”A Web of Cosmic ActivityGas appears to be seen jetting from the nebula’s heart in a faint purple “S”-shaped stream, aligned with the heart of the Red Spider. Earlier optical pictures featured this central star as faint and blue, but JWST’s near-infrared capabilities have portrayed a deeper, more complex view, spotting wavelengths not visible to the human eye.A Fleeting Moment in Cosmic TimeThough beautiful, the Red Spider Nebula’s glow is short-lived. The planetary nebula stage shows a brief period in a star’s lifecycle, lasting only a few tens of thousands of years before the material fades into space.With its glowing tendrils, radiant core, and web-like filaments extending in space, the Red Spider Nebula is a stellar masterpiece , both a reminder of cosmic mortality and a perfect Halloween treat from the universe itself.FAQs:1. What is the Red Spider Nebula? It’s a planetary nebula formed from the remnants of a dying star. 2. Who captured the new image of the Red Spider Nebula? The picture was taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope using its Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam).Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Read More News onRed Spider NebulaNASA James Webb Space Telescopeplanetary nebulacosmic Halloweenspace astronomyCardiff UniversityDr. Mikako Matsuuracosmic structureinfrared imagingstellar evolution (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates....moreless (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onRed Spider NebulaNASA James Webb Space Telescopeplanetary nebulacosmic Halloweenspace astronomyCardiff UniversityDr. Mikako Matsuuracosmic structureinfrared imagingstellar evolution(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates....moreless Explore More Stories123