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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Dust Shells around WR 140 from Webb
APOD.NASA.gov ^
| 13 Oct, 2022
| Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, JWST, MIRI, ERS Program 1349; Processing: Judy Schmidt
Posted on 10/13/2022 2:46:15 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: What are those strange rings? Rich in dust, the rings are likely 3D shells -- but how they were created remains a topic of research. Where they were created is well known: in a binary star system that lies about 6,000 light years away toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus) -- a system dominated by the Wolf-Rayet star WR 140. Wolf-Rayet stars are massive, bright, and known for their tumultuous winds. They are also known for creating and dispersing heavy elements such as carbon which is a building block of interstellar dust. The other star in the binary is also bright and massive -- but not as active. The two great stars joust in an oblong orbit as they approach each other about every eight years. When at closest approach, the X-ray emission from the system increases, as, apparently, does the dust expelled into space -- creating another shell. The featured infrared image by the new Webb Space Telescope resolves greater details and more dust shells than ever before.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: nasa
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To: MtnClimber
2
posted on
10/13/2022 2:46:32 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; America_Right; AZ .44 MAG; ...
Pinging the APOD list.
🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔
3
posted on
10/13/2022 2:47:12 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
4
posted on
10/13/2022 2:49:16 PM PDT
by
null and void
(Can't hear the Rod Serling narration? You are not in the audience. You are a part of the story.)
To: MtnClimber
Space Mushroom
Must be one of those magic florescent mushrooms.
5
posted on
10/13/2022 2:50:10 PM PDT
by
DannyTN
To: MtnClimber
They have ripples like that on Mars too. That might be where Mars came from.
6
posted on
10/13/2022 2:51:44 PM PDT
by
DannyTN
To: MtnClimber
7
posted on
10/13/2022 2:51:48 PM PDT
by
Seruzawa
("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
To: DannyTN
Trametes versicolor does not glow in the dark.
8
posted on
10/13/2022 3:02:14 PM PDT
by
Fungi
To: MtnClimber
Already more achievements than the old Hubble images.
Old saw WD-40 and new sees WR 140.
9
posted on
10/13/2022 3:15:31 PM PDT
by
frank ballenger
(You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
To: MtnClimber
It took awhile but APOD finally ran this photo. If it is shells why are the shells lite up in such an odd manner? Perhaps a thick shell is masking some of the light.
10
posted on
10/13/2022 3:19:39 PM PDT
by
Nateman
(If Mohammad was not the Anti Christ he definitely comes in as a strong second..)
To: Fungi
"Trametes versicolor does not glow in the dark."Well Fungi, if anyone knows I would expect you to.
11
posted on
10/13/2022 3:21:30 PM PDT
by
DannyTN
To: Seruzawa
Cosmic dartboard.Cosmic spirograph.
12
posted on
10/13/2022 3:30:14 PM PDT
by
JPG
(MAGA)
To: Nateman
WR stars expel their outer layers which are mostly hydrogen. Hydrogen becomes ionized by the radiation of nearby hot stars and glows red. That is probably what’s happening.
To: MtnClimber
At first, reading the description, I was imagining 3 or 4 rings, but nothing like that. It’s amazing. Like layers of an onion.
14
posted on
10/13/2022 4:34:43 PM PDT
by
telescope115
(Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
To: DannyTN
It looks like open pit mining! That’s just crazy.
15
posted on
10/13/2022 4:36:13 PM PDT
by
telescope115
(Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
To: MtnClimber
Looks like Standing Waves............................
16
posted on
10/14/2022 5:13:38 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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