NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — Known for its breathtaking beauty and proximity to Earth, the Orion Nebula has always attracted the attention of astronomers and stargazers. However, recent observations by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed a hidden mystery behind this celestial wonder. A group of researchers discovered peculiar shadows in the nebula, shedding light on a new mysterious phenomenon. The findings challenge existing theories and open up exciting opportunities for further research.
Discovery of unusual shadows
Observations of the Orion Nebula were painstakingly compiled from thousands of images and multiple filters. It was during this process that the researchers noticed something unusual about one particular filter – the F115W. In some observations, unusual shadows appeared, resembling ring formations with tendrils around the stars. These dark shadows, called “coffee spots” because of their shape, have not been observed at any other wavelength by Hubble or JWST.
Dr Mark McCorin, senior advisor for science and exploration at the European Space Agency, expressed his surprise at the discovery. “As I looked around, I began to see all these dark shadows around objects. And this is only in this filter, exclusively in this filter. There are no such shadows at any other wavelength, neither on Hubble nor on JWST,”
Solving the Mystery: Cold Neutral Helium
Researchers initially considered the possibility that dust might be causing the shadows, given the excellent ability of infrared telescopes to study dust. However, this explanation failed because shadows did not appear in other filters. Then they turned their attention to helium, a substance found in abundance in nebulae but visible only in a narrow region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Helium, the second most abundant element in the universe, makes up about a quarter of all ordinary matter. In this case, the researchers suggest that the shadows are caused by cold neutral helium, with two electrons intact, absorbing light from the background nebula. This discovery is fundamentally new, since it suggests the presence of protostellar jets that absorb light against the background of the nebula.
Dr. McCorin elaborated on this remarkable discovery, stating, “We believe that this is indeed cold, neutral helium absorbing light from the background nebula.” And perhaps the most remarkable thing is that we actually see protostellar jets absorbing light against the background of the nebula.”
Opening new directions of research
JWST has previously obtained images of protostellar jets, demonstrating their interaction with cosmic matter and the resulting light emissions. However, recent observations have revealed a new dimension to these jets, giving scientists an unprecedented opportunity to study them further. Shadows provide valuable insights into the complex mechanisms of these cosmic phenomena and challenge existing theories of the formation of planets and stars.
– Dr. Mark McCorin, Senior Advisor for Science and Exploration at the European Space Agency: “We think it’s actually cold, neutral helium absorbing light from the background nebula. And perhaps most remarkably, we actually see protostellar jets absorbing light.” against the background of a nebula.”
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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