2023-12-01 21:00:33
Astronomers Capture the Birth of a Double Star Through Detailed Observation of Gas Cloud
Astronomers have achieved a major breakthrough in observing the birth of a double star within a cloud of wind and stellar gas where protostars are formed. According to NASA, the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest telescope currently in operation, played a crucial role in this groundbreaking observation by conducting a detailed examination of the cloud where newborn stars are taking shape.
Named Harrow, the nebula is created when stellar winds or streams of gas from newly formed stars collide with the gas and dust surrounding the birthplace of young stars. The celestial body known as Herbig Haro 797 (HH 797) is located near the eastern edge of the Perseus cloud.
The infrared camera on the James Webb Space Telescope provided a rare glimpse into the cloud’s inner workings, allowing astronomers to capture molecules emitting infrared light, including molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and revealing the structure of the flows within the cloud.
While HH 797 had been previously observed, scientists studying the latest photographs have concluded that they have witnessed the birth of not one, but two stars simultaneously. This conclusion was reached after noticing that the streams of particles emanating from the stars are nearly parallel, but travel at different speeds, a phenomenon that had puzzled researchers in the past.
This groundbreaking observation opens up new possibilities for studying the formation and evolution of double star systems, providing invaluable insights into the complex processes underlying stellar birth.
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