The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has provided a breathtaking view of the protostar HH30, a young star system located 450 light-years away in the constellation Taurus. The new image shows the protoplanetary disk seen edge on, with a conical outflow of gas and dust, featuring a narrow jet blasting into space.
The JWST’s advanced infrared capabilities allowed researchers to study the formation of stars, galaxies, and exoplanet atmospheres in unprecedented detail. This image is the result of a team effort combining data from JWST, Hubble Space Telescope, and the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA).
HH30 is a Herbig-Haro object, a small, bright nebula created when high-speed jets of ionized gas collide with surrounding interstellar material. The system’s spectacular bipolar jets are thought to be key to understanding exoplanetary system formation.
Researchers used ALMA to study sub-millimeter sized grains of dust, revealing that larger grains migrate within the disc and settle into a thin layer. This discovery suggests an important step in planetary system formation, with grains clumping together to form smaller rocks and ultimately into planets.
The study also uncovered different structures embedded within each other, including a narrow high-velocity jet surrounded by a wider cone-shaped outward flow of gas. These findings provide valuable insights into the origins of our own Solar System.
This remarkable image showcases the JWST’s capabilities and offers scientists a unique opportunity to study the complex processes of star and planet formation.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/astronomers-capture-breathtaking-image-of-newborn-star-taking-shape