This explosion in space, will now form a new solar system! James Webb Telescope captures Cassiopeia A in its latest discovery

Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh

First Lady unveils Webb Telescope image

[{"selector":"#anim-96f03294-824d-4607-bc0b-875aa7e6ee71 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-0.7438100152820927%, -2.324380030515311%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Dr. Jill Biden , the First Lady of the United States and wife of US President Joe Biden revealed an image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as part of the White House's Advent Calendar

Cassiopeia A

The image featured the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A), resembling an object against the cosmic background, which is in sync with the "Magic, Wonder and Joy" theme of the White House's holiday decorations. The aftermath of a star's explosion is known as supernova remnant

Unprecedented clarity with NIRCam

[{"selector":"#anim-de2cc5c5-732b-4dd8-955f-9db0b1962cfe [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-19.455752209933276%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) provided clear pictures from a distant constellation, capturing Cas A, situated 11,000 light-years away, showcasing the aftermath of the star's explosion

Extensively studied celestial object

[{"selector":"#anim-4b91c3cd-b06f-4ae3-98a1-40695ab12bc7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.78267032654939%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Cas A, situated in the Cassiopeia constellation, is one of the extensively studied objects in the universe

Vibrant hues of gas and elements

[{"selector":"#anim-81a7355a-d219-40a1-81fa-24c30134559e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.6837459933219006%, -0.7819013590242196%) scale(0.9174311926605505)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The NIRCam image displayed the inner shell of Cas A in hues, representing gas knots rich in elements like sulfur, oxygen, argon, and neon

Contributions to new stars and planetary systems

[{"selector":"#anim-5181ab77-ea0a-4b21-94d5-66772d2d7e71 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-4.3850332790255795%, -0.8957819218648341%) scale(0.9009009009009009)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Debris remnants intermingled with dust and molecules within Cas A will contribute to the formation of new stars and planetary systems

Fine detail unveiled

[{"selector":"#anim-a4e7ec48-a9b4-47b5-906a-e634b371ae44 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.6552232025182068%, -1.4204543558307459%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] JWST's image revealed details, with some debris filaments too small to resolve, indicating their size is less than 10 billion miles across

Intriguing differences in views

[{"selector":"#anim-eeb10f03-75ed-460d-94df-a17b755e2ff6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-29.73543544404792%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Astronomers are intrigued by disparities between the near-infrared and mid-infrared views provided by JWST's instruments. Although the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) image does not exhibit the colour observed in the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) image, it unveils structures that are not visible at mid-infrared wavelengths. Notably, the absence of the Green Monster—a loop of green light in the central cavity of Cas A—in the NIRCam view offered significant insights into the nature of the remnant

Blast wave collisions

[{"selector":"#anim-0daa013f-61e3-4427-a318-930f4b7c8281 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.3870509692512949%, -12.160725935618025%) scale(0.7194244604316546)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The image also displayed where the supernova's blast wave collided with surrounding circumstellar material, visible in mid-infrared due to cooler dust

Synchrotron radiation adds complexity

[{"selector":"#anim-94d457f0-9e74-47b7-8a5c-e89328bca686 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.789787325121342%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Synchrotron radiation, emitted by charged particles in magnetic fields, is visible in both NIRCam and MIRI images, contributing another layer to the portrait of Cas A

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