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| NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured high-resolution near- and mid-infrared images of Herbig-Haro 49/50, revealing intricate features of a young star’s outflow. The jet’s interaction with surrounding gas and dust forms arc-like bow shocks, offering insights into star formation and jet activity. A distant spiral galaxy appears in the background, creating a striking visual contrast. Webb’s detailed infrared observations help researchers understand the early stages of low-mass star formation, like that of our Sun. |
Move over, Ben & Jerry’s—NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope just served up the universe’s quirkiest dessert: a swirling “Cosmic Tornado” of gas and dust (Herbig-Haro 49/50) topped with a photobombing spiral galaxy. This celestial sundae isn’t edible, but it’s packed with science sprinkles!
What’s in This Cosmic Treat?
- The Whipped Cream: HH 49/50, a frothy jet of gas blasted out by a baby star (a protostar) in the Chamaeleon I Cloud—a stellar nursery just 625 light-years away. Think of it as a baby star’s tantrum, shooting material at speeds up to 190 miles per second!
- The Cherry: A distant spiral galaxy, casually hanging out at the tip of the tornado. Plot twist: They’re not even related—it’s just a lucky cosmic coincidence!
Why Is Webb the Ultimate Dessert Detective?
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| This side-by-side comparison showcases a Spitzer Space Telescope image of HH 49/50 (left) and a Webb Space Telescope image of the same object (right). Webb reveals more intricate details of the heated gas and dust in the protostellar jet, as well as a distant spiral galaxy at the tip of the outflow, which Spitzer’s image does not capture. The color coding for both images highlights different wavelengths of light, with Webb offering more refined and detailed views across various infrared bands. |
Back in 2006, Spitzer Space Telescope called HH 49/50 the “Cosmic Tornado” but couldn’t figure out the fuzzy blob at its tip. Webb, with its infrared super-vision, zoomed in and revealed: “Surprise! That’s a whole galaxy, folks.”
Webb’s new image combines near- and mid-infrared views (NIRCam + MIRI) to show:
- Glowing hydrogen and carbon monoxide (orange/red swirls) where the jet slams into space stuff.
- Dusty bubbles in the spiral galaxy’s arms, hinting at star-forming regions.
- Arc-shaped shockwaves that look like a speedboat’s wake—star edition.
Meet the Star Behind the Drama.
The jet’s likely source? CED 110 IRS4, a Class I protostar still binge-eating gas and dust to grow bigger. It’s like a cosmic teenager in its “feed me” phase. Scientists recently used Webb to study its icy surroundings—because even baby stars need snacks.
Wait, Why Is That Galaxy There?
The spiral galaxy is just vibing in the background, millions of light-years farther away. But thanks to Webb’s sharp eyes, we can see its blue bulge (old stars), dusty arms (new stars forming), and even bubbles where stars blew away gas. It’s a galactic photobomb for the ages!
The Bigger Picture.
This accidental alignment isn’t just pretty—it’s a sneak peek into how young stars shape their neighborhoods and how galaxies evolve. Plus, it’s proof that the universe loves a good dessert metaphor.
Hungry for more? Dive into Webb’s image to spot shockwaves, distant galaxies, and maybe even the next cosmic snack. Just don’t expect sprinkles.