Title: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Captures Stunning Images of Youngest Protostellar Outflow
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s premier space science observatory, has captured high-resolution images of Herbig-Haro 211 (HH 211), a bipolar jet in interstellar space. HH 211, one of the youngest and nearest protostellar outflows, proved to be an ideal target for Webb.
Utilizing infrared imaging, Webb effectively studied newborn stars and their outflows that are still concealed within gas and dust. This approach allowed Webb’s sensitive infrared instruments to collect the star’s outflows’ infrared emission, providing detailed maps of their structure.
The resulting image has unveiled a series of bow shocks and a narrow bipolar jet in unprecedented detail. Additionally, these observations suggest that HH 211’s protostar could potentially be an unresolved binary star, a notable finding for astronomers.
Previous observations using ground-based telescopes had discovered giant bow shocks and cavity-like structures in shocked hydrogen and carbon monoxide. However, Webb’s new observations revealed that the outflow from HH 211 is relatively slow compared to more evolved protostars. The innermost outflow structures were found to have velocities ranging from approximately 48 to 60 miles per second.
Furthermore, the researchers concluded that the outflows from the youngest stars mainly consist of molecules, shedding light on the early stages of star formation. This valuable information contributes to our understanding of the birth and evolution of stars.
The James Webb Space Telescope’s success in capturing these astonishing images of HH 211 reinforces its instrumental role in space exploration and scientific discovery. Led by NASA, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency, Webb’s capabilities continue to push boundaries and provide invaluable insights into the mysteries of the universe.
As the mission continues, scientists and space enthusiasts eagerly anticipate more extraordinary discoveries from Webb, eagerly peering into the cosmic depths to unravel the secrets that lie within.
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