The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to provide stunning insights into the universe.
A recent image of the protostar HH30 showcases an unprecedented level of detail, thanks to JWST’s advanced infrared capabilities. First discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), HH30 is a Herbig-Haro object, a young stellar system characterized by jets of ionized gas colliding with interstellar material.
The JWST, launched on December 25, 2021, orbits the Sun at the second Lagrange point, approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. With a 6.5-meter gold-coated mirror and powerful infrared instruments, it can peer through cosmic dust to study the formation of stars, galaxies, and exoplanet atmospheres.
Studying HH30 in Detail
Recently, JWST was used to observe HH30, located 450 light-years away in the constellation Taurus within the dark cloud LDN1551. At the system’s center lies a newborn star, embedded in a dense disk of gas and dust that fuels its formation. HH30’s bipolar jets, emerging at high speeds, create shock waves that heat the surrounding gas, causing it to glow in visible and infrared wavelengths.
Astronomers combined images from JWST, HST, and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) to examine the disk across multiple wavelengths. These observations resulted in a detailed new image, which has been named Picture of the Month.
Revealing the Structure of Planetary Formation
JWST’s infrared sensitivity enabled researchers to track sub-millimeter-sized dust grains, while ALMA provided insight into millimeter-sized grains. The findings revealed that smaller dust grains are widely distributed, whereas larger grains settle into a narrow region within the plane of the disk. This marks a key stage in planetary system formation, as dust particles begin clumping together into small rocks and eventually planets.
The study also uncovered intricate structural details within HH30. A high-velocity jet emerges from the central disk, surrounded by a broader, cone-shaped gas outflow. These observations not only enhance our understanding of exoplanetary system formation but also provide valuable insights into the origins of our own Solar System.
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes milita...
Iranian judicial authorities have shut a French language centre in Tehran linked to the French Embassy, accusing it of “illegal activities&rd...
Ankara and Washington are considering “creative ideas” to resolve U.S. sanctions imposed over Türkiye’s purchase of Russia&r...
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
The death toll from an overnight Russian attack on the Kyiv region rose to four, including three children, Kyiv regional authorities said on Sunday. A mother and her two 3-year-old children were killed when a Russian drone strike hit a private home, the emergency service said.
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes military action against Tehran.
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is under preliminary investigation in France over a suspected conflict of interest linked to the 2024 sale of Ligue 1 broadcasting rights.
Overnight Russian strikes on the city of Sumy, northeast Ukraine, have killed one woman and injured a man, the country's State Emergency Service has said.
Russian parliamentary elections have delivered a comfortable win to the ruling United Russia party, which is closely aligned to President Vladimir Putin. With more than 95 per cent of ballots counted, United Russia has taken 57.83 per cent of the vote, up from the 49.8 per cent it won in 2021.
A powerful typhoon was approaching Japan’s Pacific coast on Monday, bringing torrential rain, strong winds and a heightened risk of landslides across the Kanto region, including Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 21 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in sports.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment