The observation was among the first made by Webb following its launch in late 2021
. Its infrared eyes observed all the gas and dust flung into space by a huge, hot star 15,000 light-years away. A light-year is about 5.8 trillion miles.
Shimmering in purple like a cherry blossom, the cast-off material once comprised the star's outer layer. The Hubble Space Telescope snapped a shot of the same transitioning star a few decades ago, but it appeared more like a fireball without the delicate details.Sign up for NBC Chicago newsletters. Such a transformation occurs only with some stars and normally is the last step before they explode, going supernova, according to scientists.
NASA’s James Webb telescope is going to change our understanding of the universe forever. Maurice te Plate of the European Space Agency, who is a systems engineer for the telescope, joined LX News Now host Eric Alvarez to explain why it is a “game changer.” “We’ve never seen it like that before. It’s really exciting,” said Macarena Garcia Marin, a European Space Agency scientist who is part of the project.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Webb Telescope Reveals Jaw-Dropping New Image Of A Massive Star About To Go SupernovaNASA mission experts have unveiled a stunning new image of a huge star on the cusp of exploding, taken by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Read more »
James Webb captures a majestic view of star formation's earliest stagesJames Webb has captured a breathtaking view of the early stages of star formation found within spiral galaxies.
Read more »
Satellites are Spoiling Images Taken by the Hubble Space TelescopeThe Hubble Space Telescope may be rendered useless by the ever-increasing amount of satellites.
Read more »
How often does the International Space Station have to dodge space debris?Astronauts have to deal with growing amounts of space junk in orbit, but there are procedures on the International Space Station in case of trouble.
Read more »
'Jesus in Space': Faith and science take center stage on space shuttle flight in new bookA children's book tells the true story of NASA Astronaut Dr. Tom Jones, who flew into space in 1994. Jones, along with two other Catholic astronauts, received Holy Communion mid-flight.
Read more »