NASA’s Webb Telescope Unmasks True Nature of the Cosmic Tornado
Sometimes the stars (and galaxies) align!
This outflow from a newly forming star gives this Herbig-Haro object (HH 49/50) its nickname, the “cosmic tornado.” This pillar of gas and dust looks like it’s topped by a galaxy, but perspective makes all the difference here. In reality, this galaxy is light years away from HH 49/50 and completely unassociated with it!
Herbig-Haro objects are outflows produced by jets launched from a nearby, forming star (in this case, out of frame at lower right). The outflows plow into a denser region of material creating shock waves. The orange and red billowing structures in this image become visible to Webb as the material from the shock waves cools and emits light at visible and infrared wavelengths.
Read more: science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-telescope-unmas...
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
Description: Angled from the upper left corner to the lower right corner of the image is a cone-shaped orange-red cloud known as Herbig-Haro 49/50. This feature takes up about three-fourths of the length of this angle. The tip of the cone positioned at the upper left appears translucent with a rounded end. Coincidently, a background spiral galaxy appears right near the tip too. The galaxy has a concentrated blue center that fades outwards to blend in with red spiral arms. The cones-shaped feature widens slightly from tip down to the lower right. Along the way there are additional rounded edges, like edges of a wave, and intricate foamy-like details. The nebula appears even more translucent to the lower right providing a clearer view of the black background of space. The black background of space is clearer, speckled with some white stars and smaller, more numerous, fainter white galaxies.
NASA’s Webb Telescope Unmasks True Nature of the Cosmic Tornado
Sometimes the stars (and galaxies) align!
This outflow from a newly forming star gives this Herbig-Haro object (HH 49/50) its nickname, the “cosmic tornado.” This pillar of gas and dust looks like it’s topped by a galaxy, but perspective makes all the difference here. In reality, this galaxy is light years away from HH 49/50 and completely unassociated with it!
Herbig-Haro objects are outflows produced by jets launched from a nearby, forming star (in this case, out of frame at lower right). The outflows plow into a denser region of material creating shock waves. The orange and red billowing structures in this image become visible to Webb as the material from the shock waves cools and emits light at visible and infrared wavelengths.
Read more: science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-telescope-unmas...
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
Description: Angled from the upper left corner to the lower right corner of the image is a cone-shaped orange-red cloud known as Herbig-Haro 49/50. This feature takes up about three-fourths of the length of this angle. The tip of the cone positioned at the upper left appears translucent with a rounded end. Coincidently, a background spiral galaxy appears right near the tip too. The galaxy has a concentrated blue center that fades outwards to blend in with red spiral arms. The cones-shaped feature widens slightly from tip down to the lower right. Along the way there are additional rounded edges, like edges of a wave, and intricate foamy-like details. The nebula appears even more translucent to the lower right providing a clearer view of the black background of space. The black background of space is clearer, speckled with some white stars and smaller, more numerous, fainter white galaxies.