new picture for James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) shows no less than 17 fingerprint-shaped dust rings created by a rare type of star and its companion in a celestial dance.
The duo is located more than 5,000 light years ago planet earth They are collectively known as Wolf-Rayet 140 (WR 140). Each ring formed when two stars approached each other and collided streams of gas that pushed them out of space, compressing the gas and forming dust.
Publish the research in the journal natural astronomy.
A rare phenomenon caught in space
The stars orbit around them once every eight years, and like rings on a tree trunk, rings of dust signal the passage of time.
Astronomer Ryan Lau of the National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab commented: “We’ve observed dust production in this system for more than a century. The image also shows how sensitive the JWST is. Previously, we could only see two rings of dust using ground-based telescopes. Now we can see what no less than 17.”
In addition to James Webb’s full sensitivity, the mid-infrared (MIRI) instrument is particularly suitable for researchers to study dust rings or layers. This is because it can see in infrared light, a wavelength range invisible to the human eye.
Not only is this an incredible picture, but this rare phenomenon is revealing new clues about cosmic dust and how it can survive in the harsh environments of space.
Dr. Olivia Jones, Webb Fellow, UK ATC
Fingerprint created by two stars
The UK Astronomical Technology Center (UK ATC) played an important role in the design and construction of the MIRI spectrometer. It was used to reveal the structure of the dust, which consists mainly of material ejected from the star, a class known as Wolf-Rayet.
Stars in this class have at least 25 times the mass of stars Sun It is nearing the end of its history.
Experts suggest that the star in this Wolf-Rayet pair may have lost more than half of its original mass in the process.
How was the rare phenomenon captured?
Turning gas into gunpowder is like turning flour into bread: it requires special conditions and special ingredients. Hydrogen, the most common component of stars, cannot form dust on its own. But because Wolf-Rayet stars spit out a lot of mass, they also inject more complex resources normally found inside the star, such as carbon.
Heavy air is characterized by cooling as it moves through space and then contracts at the point of contact between the stellar winds, like two hands kneading dough.
Scientists say that while some other Wolf-Rayet systems form dust, none are known to form rings like Wolf-Rayet 140.
The single end of the ring occurs because the orbit of the star WR 140 Wolf-Rayet is elongated rather than circular.
Only when the stars are close to each other (the Earth and the Sun are about the same distance) and their winds collide is there enough pressure in the gas to form dust.
Astronomers believe that WR 140’s winds swept away debris from the surrounding area that may have collided with it, which may explain why the rings remain intact.
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.