The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has unveiled a breathtaking glimpse into the birth of a star, capturing an image reminiscent of our Sun’s formation 4.6 billion years ago. The stellar spectacle unfolds within the object known as HH212, housing a nascent star, likely less than 50,000 years old, at its core.
This mesmerizing image, obtained by the JWST’s Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam), unveils the star cocooned within a dense, swirling disk of gas and dust, rendering its direct glow invisible. Instead, the focus lies on the vivid pink-red jets ejected in opposite directions, a stunning celestial ballet.
Situated in the Orion constellation, near the iconic “belt” stars, HH212 resides approximately 1,300 light-years away from Earth. These extraordinary jets of gas are considered the star’s mechanism for regulating its birth, crucial in managing the angular momentum generated as the central gas ball contracts and rotates.
Prof Mark McCaughrean, senior scientific advisor at the European Space Agency, elaborated on this process, stating, “We think that as all the material shrinks down, magnetic fields are pulled together and then some of the material coming in through the disc gets captured on magnetic fields and is thrown out through the poles. That’s why we call these structures bipolar.”
The JWST’s 10 times sharper image than its predecessors allows scientists to delve deeper into the intricate processes governing star formation. By observing HH212 over the telescope’s 30-year study period, astronomers can create a time-lapse movie, unveiling the dynamic changes in jet structures and determining their speeds, often exceeding 100 km per second.
The striking pink-red hues signify the presence of molecular hydrogen. The shockwaves coursing through the outflows energize and illuminate the gas, creating a spectacular display at the 2.12-micron infrared wavelength. This exceptional color image, made possible by JWST’s diverse wavelength detection capabilities, enriches our understanding of the processes unfolding in these stellar jets.
The name “HH” in HH212 derives from Herbig-Haro, a homage to George Herbig and Guillermo Haro, pioneers in studying such celestial phenomena. The transformative capabilities of the JWST, with its 6.5m primary mirror and broad spectrum observation, mark a significant advancement in unraveling the mysteries of Herbig-Haro objects and reshaping our comprehension of star formation.
As the JWST continues to unveil celestial wonders, it leaves us in awe, reminding us of the profound beauty inherent in the cosmic ballet of star birth.