Astronomers used the James Webb Telescope (JWST) to get the most detailed image to date of the planetary nebula NGC 1514. It demonstrates many unique previously unknown details of this system.
NGC 1514 is located 1,500 light-years from Earth toward the constellation Taurus. It represents the final scene in the life of a dual system whose components have orbited each other in a narrow nine-year orbit. One of its stars, which was several times more massive than our Sun, completely exhausted its hydrogen fuel reserves and began to swell, turning into a red giant. Then, it shed the outer layers of its atmosphere, leaving behind a hot compact core. Its radiation ionized the ejected matter, making it visible. This happened about 4,000 years ago.
The JWST image shows NGC 1514 in great detail. The bright object in the center actually corresponds to two stars, one of which ejected matter and began the process of becoming a white dwarf. Scientists estimate that the total mass of the gas and dust surrounding them is 2.2 solar masses.
One of the main distinguishing features of NGC 1514 — symmetrical dust rings — is clearly visible in the image. They were discovered back in 2010, but it was only thanks to JWST’s powerful vision that astronomers were able to view them in great detail for the first time. You can also see holes in the center pink area, corresponding to areas where faster material has made its way through.
According to JWST data, the nebula is located at a 60-degree angle to us, making it look like a jar. But it is much more likely that NGC 1514 is shaped like an hourglass with the ends cut off. This may be due to the presence of a companion. When the star was at the peak of material loss, its neighbor could get very close, resulting in such unusual shapes. Instead of forming a sphere, this interaction may have led to the formation of rings.
By astronomical standards, the planetary nebula stage is extremely fleeting — however, by human standards, it is a very impressive period of time. NGC 1514 will be observed for at least a few thousand more years. Once the core of a dead star cools enough to stop emitting sufficient ultraviolet light to ionize it, it will no longer be visible. The ejected matter will disperse through the Milky Way and eventually become part of new stars and exoplanets.
Recall that James Webb recently discovered biomarkers in the atmosphere of an exoplanet.
According to ESA
