James Webb Telescope Unveils New Insights on Supernova 1987A

 NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is currently investigating the well-known Supernova 1987A (SN 1987A), located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, approximately 168,000 light-years away from our planet. Since its discovery in 1987, the supernova has been under rigorous scrutiny across multiple wavelengths, from gamma rays to radio waves. The new findings from Webb's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) are offering critical insights into the evolution of a supernova over time.

The Details

A recent image presents a unique central structure that resembles a keyhole, filled with gas and dust particles expelled by the stellar explosion. This dust is so concentrated that even the near-infrared light, captured by Webb, cannot penetrate it, creating a dark "hole." A luminous ring encircles the central region, connecting two faint outer arms that appear like an hourglass. The equatorial ring, formed from the material ejected prior to the supernova explosion, showcases bright hot spots that emerged when the shock wave from the supernova collided with the ring.

Other Observations by Space Telescopes

While these structures have been previously observed by NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, as well as the Chandra X-ray Telescope, the superior sensitivity and resolution of the James Webb have unveiled a new aspect of this supernova remnant: small, crescent-shaped structures. Believed to be parts of the outer layers of gas ejected during the stellar explosion, these crescent shapes seem to contain more material than anticipated, from our viewpoint.

An Unparalleled View of Supernova 1987A

The high-resolution images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope are noteworthy. Although the now-retired Spitzer telescope had observed the supernova in the infrared, contributing valuable data on its evolving emissions, it never achieved the clarity and detail that the James Webb has displayed. Despite nearly four decades of study since the supernova's initial discovery, numerous enigmas persist, particularly those concerning the neutron star that is thought to have formed following the supernova explosion. Just as Spitzer did, the James Webb will continue to monitor the supernova, combining newly collected data with those from the Hubble and Chandra telescopes.