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For its Picture of the Month, the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has captured a breathtaking new view of IRAS 04302+2247 (or simply IRAS 04302), a young star cocooned within a planet-forming disc. Located about 525 light-years away in the Taurus star-forming region, this cosmic nursery offers scientists a rare chance to study the earliest stages of planet formation.
A Glimpse into the Birth of Planets.
Across the galaxy, stars are born in vast clouds of cold gas and dust. As these stars grow, they gather surrounding material into narrow, rotating protoplanetary discs. Within these discs, dust and gas clump together, setting the stage for the birth of new worlds.
Studying objects like IRAS 04302 allows astronomers to look back in time—about 4.5 billion years—to understand how our Solar System, including Earth, once formed.
IRAS 04302: The Butterfly Star.
IRAS 04302 is classified as a protostar, a star still in the process of gaining mass. Surrounding it is a massive protoplanetary disc measuring 65 billion kilometers across—several times the size of our Solar System.
From Webb’s perspective, the disc is seen edge-on, appearing as a dark streak that blocks the bright central star. This dusty lane contains the raw material for planet formation, creating a thin, dense midplane where baby planets could be assembling.
The unique shape revealed by Webb has earned IRAS 04302 the nickname “Butterfly Star.” The dusty disc creates two glowing reflection nebulae on either side, resembling delicate cosmic wings illuminated by the protostar’s light.
What Webb and Hubble Reveal.
The new image combines observations from Webb’s Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) with optical data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Together, these instruments provide a stunning multiwavelength portrait:
- Webb’s infrared view traces tiny dust grains and shows how light scatters across the nebula.
- Hubble’s optical view highlights the central dust lane and reveals clumps of material still falling onto the protostar, along with jets and outflows.
These observations suggest that IRAS 04302 is still actively feeding on its environment—a star in the making, shaping the destiny of its future planets.
Why Edge-On Views Matter.
Most protoplanetary discs are seen face-on, displaying rings, spirals, and gaps that hint at baby planets forming within. But the edge-on view of IRAS 04302 offers a rare perspective on its vertical structure, showing how dust grains settle and compress into layers.
This is crucial because dust growth is one of the first steps toward building planets. By comparing edge-on discs like IRAS 04302 with others, scientists can better understand the complex process that transforms stardust into worlds.
Unlocking the Secrets of Planet Formation.
The observations were part of the Webb GO programme 2562, led by researchers F. Ménard and K. Stapelfeldt. Their goal is to study several edge-on protoplanetary discs and explore how dust evolves into larger structures.
Ultimately, Webb’s detailed view of IRAS 04302 not only showcases the beauty of cosmic birthplaces, but also helps answer one of humanity’s greatest questions:
How do stars and planets like our own come into existence?
Key Takeaways.
- IRAS 04302 is a young protostar located 525 light-years away in Taurus.
- It is surrounded by a 65-billion-kilometer-wide protoplanetary disc.
- Seen edge-on, the disc blocks the star’s light, creating a striking “Butterfly” shape.
- Webb and Hubble combined observations reveal dust growth, nebulae, and active star formation.
- Studying such discs helps scientists understand the origins of our Solar System.
With this new Webb Telescope image of the Butterfly Star, we are witnessing the earliest chapters of planetary creation—a cosmic story that began billions of years ago and continues to unfold across the universe.