The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning new image of a dying star emitting glowing gases, resembling a “cosmic dumbbell.” The new image may indicate that this star, before collapsing, consumed another star through a process called stellar cannibalism.
Astronomers celebrated the 34th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope by capturing images of the Little Dumbbell Nebula. Located in the northern circumpolar constellation of Perseus, this nebula, also known as Messier 76 or M76, is a continuously expanding gas shell expelled by a dying red giant star. Despite being called a planetary nebula, it has no connection with planets.
Planetary nebulae typically have a round structure, named so because they initially resemble disk-like shapes where planets form. The Little Dumbbell Nebula was first discovered by French astronomer Pierre Méchain in 1780, and detailed observations were made in 1891 due to its unique shape, making it a favorite among both professional and amateur astronomers.
If researchers confirm evidence of stellar cannibalism in this nebula, it could provide evidence of the long-theorized existence of companions to red giant stars.
The Little Dumbbell Nebula consists of a ring-like structure with a central bar and two lobes at the openings of the ring. Before the aging red giant star collapsed, it released a ring of gas and dust. Astronomers believe this ring may have been formed by the action of a binary companion star, with the shed material forming a thick disk of dust and gas along the plane of the companion’s orbit.
Although the companion star once orbited the red giant star, it is not visible in the Hubble images. Scientists speculate that the red giant star consumed its companion, and through studying this ring, they aim to unravel the forensic evidence of this cosmic phenomenon.
Since its collapse, the red giant star has transformed into the remnants of a dead star called a super-dense white dwarf. The white dwarf’s scorching temperature reaches up to 250,000 degrees Fahrenheit (138,871 degrees Celsius), 24 times hotter than the surface of the Sun, making it one of the hottest known white dwarfs.
The white dwarf shines brightly at the center of the nebula in the Hubble images.
The two lobes seen in the imagery represent jets of hot gas pushed out by a stellar wind-like material escaping from the dying star, tearing through space at a speed of 2 million miles per hour. This velocity is fast enough to travel from Earth to the Moon in just over 7 minutes.
The turbulent stellar wind is colliding with lower temperature, slower-moving gas expelled by the star in its earlier stages when it was a red giant.
Ultraviolet radiation from the scorching star causes the gas to emit light of different colors representing various elements, such as red for nitrogen and blue for oxygen.
Astronomers estimate that within 15,000 years, as the nebula continues to expand and dim, it will fade from view in the night sky.
The Little Dumbbell Nebula is just one of 53,000 celestial objects observed by the Hubble Telescope over its 34 years in operation. Hubble has conducted 1.6 million observations to date. Astronomers worldwide rely on the telescope and its expanding database for research to unveil new discoveries.
For over three decades, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized modern astronomy, benefiting not only astronomers but also leading the public on a journey of exploration and discovery. Each year, Hubble devotes a small portion of its valuable observation time to capture special anniversary images, showcasing uniquely beautiful and significant celestial objects.
According to NASA, “this space telescope is the most scientifically productive space astrophysics mission in NASA’s history.”
Now, the James Webb Space Telescope complements the research findings of the Hubble Telescope. Hubble and the Webb Telescope work together to collect observations at different wavelengths, allowing for a clearer and deeper look into the cosmos as astronomers attempt to unravel the mysteries of supernovae, distant galaxies, exoplanets, and other celestial phenomena.