APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
User avatar
APOD Robot
Otto Posterman
Posts: 5603
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:27 am

APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by APOD Robot » Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:05 am

Image Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb

Explanation: Near the center of a nearby star-forming region lies a massive cluster containing some of the largest and hottest stars known. Collectively known as star cluster NGC 2070, these stars are part of the vast Tarantula Nebula and were captured in two kinds of infrared light by the new Webb Space Telescope. The main image shows the group of stars at NGC 2070's center -- known as R136 -- in near-infrared, light just a bit too red for humans to see. In contrast, the rollover image captures the cluster center in mid-infrared light, light closer to radio waves. Since R136's brightest stars emit more of their light in the near infrared, they are much more prominent on that image. This LMC cluster's massive stars emit particle winds and energetic light that are evaporating the gas cloud from which they formed. The Webb images, released yesterday, shows details of R136 and its surroundings that have never been seen before, details that are helping humanity to better understanding of how all stars are born, evolve and die.

<< Previous APOD This Day in APOD Next APOD >>

User avatar
Ann
4725 Å
Posts: 13866
Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 5:33 am

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by Ann » Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:51 am

It is interesting to compare James Webb's NIRCam near infrared image with Hubble's optical one:


Note in the Hubble image a dark dust lane just above the R136 cluster itself. The dust lane is "folded over on itself". It is more obvious here:


In the MIRI image, the prominent dark dust lane is seen to be apparently connected to a larger cloud of gas and dust to its upper left (presumably to its north west).

Note the brilliant yellow star in the NIRCam image. The same star is visible at center left in the MIRI image. What kind of star is that?

Well, look at the first Hubble image I posted, There is an orange star in that position. It is the only orange star among all the blue stars in the Hubble image. I have always thought of this orange star as the only red giant in (or near) R136 in the Tarantula Nebula.

It sure shines in infrared.

Ann
Color Commentator

User avatar
Holger Nielsen
Ensign
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2016 7:45 am

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by Holger Nielsen » Wed Sep 07, 2022 7:15 am

Very interesting comparison, Ann, thank you for your effort. Your desciptions helped finding the same features on different images.

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 9:03 am

Ann wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:51 am Note the brilliant yellow star in the NIRCam image. The same star is visible at center left in the MIRI image. What kind of star is that?
Well, look at the first Hubble image I posted, There is an orange star in that position. It is the only orange star among all the blue stars in the Hubble image. I have always thought of this orange star as the only red giant in (or near) R136 in the Tarantula Nebula.
It sure shines in infrared.
I tried to locate it in simbad at
05 38 48.56 -69 05 31.49
and got this:
W61 7-8 -- Red Supergiant

Now I wonder what to make of wiki's statement:
R136 is thought to be less than 2 million years old.[8][9] None of the member stars is significantly evolved and none is thought to have exploded as supernova. The brightest stars are WNh, O supergiants, and OIf/WN slash stars, all extremely massive fully convective stars. There are no red supergiants, blue hypergiants, or luminous blue variables within the cluster.

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 10:23 am

Ann wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:51 am Note in the Hubble image a dark dust lane just above the R136 cluster itself. The dust lane is "folded over on itself". It is more obvious here:
In the MIRI image, the prominent dark dust lane is seen to be apparently connected to a larger cloud of gas and dust to its upper left (presumably to its north west).
That dust lane is not only getting pale in Hubble; the pic is cropped
R136 Hubble.jpg
R136 Webb MIRI.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by VictorBorun on Wed Sep 07, 2022 10:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 10:26 am

dust lane in Hubble over Webb MIRI
Click to view full size image 1 or image 2

User avatar
Ann
4725 Å
Posts: 13866
Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 5:33 am

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by Ann » Wed Sep 07, 2022 12:35 pm

VictorBorun wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 9:03 am
Ann wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:51 am Note the brilliant yellow star in the NIRCam image. The same star is visible at center left in the MIRI image. What kind of star is that?
Well, look at the first Hubble image I posted, There is an orange star in that position. It is the only orange star among all the blue stars in the Hubble image. I have always thought of this orange star as the only red giant in (or near) R136 in the Tarantula Nebula.
It sure shines in infrared.
I tried to locate it in simbad at
05 38 48.56 -69 05 31.49
and got this:
W61 7-8 -- Red Supergiant

Now I wonder what to make of wiki's statement:
R136 is thought to be less than 2 million years old.[8][9] None of the member stars is significantly evolved and none is thought to have exploded as supernova. The brightest stars are WNh, O supergiants, and OIf/WN slash stars, all extremely massive fully convective stars. There are no red supergiants, blue hypergiants, or luminous blue variables within the cluster.
Perhaps W61 7-8 is not thought to be a part of R136 proper?

Nice hover image, by the way! :D

Ann
Color Commentator

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 12:45 pm

fitting Hubble to NIRCAM
R136 Hubble +2.jpg
R136 NIR.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 12:51 pm

Hubble over Webb NIRCAM
Click to view full size image 1 or image 2

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 1:02 pm

there is a red regular hexagon frame around a star in mid IR (18 μm wide filter)

In this cut it's in the top right corner:
red hexagon MIRI.jpg
I think it's an artefact similar to spikes, but I am surprised how regular this hexagon is
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
orin stepanek
Plutopian
Posts: 8200
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:41 pm
Location: Nebraska

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by orin stepanek » Wed Sep 07, 2022 1:07 pm

TarantulaMedIr_Webb_960.jpg
what a difference the light source for photos make! :shock:
TarantulaNearIr_Webb_1396.jpg
I love R136 star cluster; just for it's beauty! 8-)
16525162295_6d833e5c55_b.jpg
Nosy doggy! :lol2:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Orin

Smile today; tomorrow's another day!

User avatar
Chris Peterson
Abominable Snowman
Posts: 18617
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:13 pm
Location: Guffey, Colorado, USA

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by Chris Peterson » Wed Sep 07, 2022 1:19 pm

APOD Robot wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:05 am Since R136's brightest stars emit more of their light in the near infrared, they are much more prominent on that image.
That observation could be misunderstood. As very hot objects, ALL stars emit more of their energy in the near-IR than at even longer wavelengths. But none emit very much of their total energy in the IR, as compared with visible light. The brightest stars here emit most of their energy in the blue or even UV part of the spectrum.

An interesting thing we see in this image is the much lower resolution of the long wavelength image. In near-IR, the JWST resolution is better than the HST, because of its much larger mirror. But at longer IR wavelengths, the two have the same resolution.
Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com

User avatar
bystander
Apathetic Retiree
Posts: 21593
Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:06 pm
Location: Oklahoma

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by bystander » Wed Sep 07, 2022 1:25 pm

Last edited by bystander on Wed Sep 07, 2022 1:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Corrected link to side by side
Know the quiet place within your heart and touch the rainbow of possibility; be
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk.
— Garrison Keillor

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:44 pm

Fitting the new-born star images:
1. Hubble (the newborn in the centre is not visible through its dust cocon) to NIRCam
R136 newborn Hubble-.jpg
R136 newborn near IR.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:46 pm

2. Hubble to MIRI
R136 newborn Hubble.jpg
R136 newborn mid IR.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:56 pm

Hubble over NIRCam
Click to view full size image 1 or image 2
Hubble over MIRI
Click to view full size image 1 or image 2
Webb site says their near IR spectrum shows the protostar bubble as a top of a pillar, not yet blown from inside by the newborn star, but blown from outside by the forming globular stellar cluster

My frame is cut here:
R136 cut.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
AVAO
Commander
Posts: 802
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 12:24 pm
AKA: multiwavelength traveller
Location: Zurich, Switzerland

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by AVAO » Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:41 pm

VictorBorun wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:56 pm Hubble over NIRCam
Click to view full size image 1 or image 2
Hubble over MIRI
Click to view full size image 1 or image 2
Webb site says their near IR spectrum shows the protostar bubble as a top of a pillar, not yet blown from inside by the newborn star, but blown from outside by the forming globular stellar cluster

My frame is cut here:
R136 cut.jpg

Very cool Victor!

And as far as i can see, there are plenty of star births to be found in the he prominent dark dust lane of Ann too.
Jac
Click to view full size image 1 or image 2
jac berne (flickr) Image 1: subtraction JWST/HST Image 2: HST

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:56 pm

I am confused with this:
The signature of atomic hydrogen, shown in blue, shows up in the star itself but not immediately surrounding it. Instead, it appears outside the “bubble,” which spectra show is actually “filled” with molecular hydrogen (green) and complex hydrocarbons (red). This indicates that the bubble is actually the top of a dense pillar of dust and gas that is being blasted by radiation from the cluster of massive young stars to its lower right (see the full NIRCam image). It does not appear as pillar-like as some other structures in the nebula because there is not much color contrast with the area surrounding it.

Where is that pillar?

User avatar
VictorBorun
Captain
Posts: 1146
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:25 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by VictorBorun » Wed Sep 07, 2022 6:14 pm

AVAO wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:41 pm And as far as i can see, there are plenty of star births to be found in the he prominent dark dust lane of Ann too.
Jac
Click to view full size image 1 or image 2
jac berne (flickr) Image 1: subtraction JWST/HST Image 2: HST
Those stars are, however, inside a thick dust nebula; they may all be already born, may already have broken their tight dust cocons.
So the star of the perinatal story is a first

heehaw

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by heehaw » Wed Sep 07, 2022 7:33 pm

Wow, those are just wonderful images!

User avatar
Ann
4725 Å
Posts: 13866
Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 5:33 am

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by Ann » Wed Sep 07, 2022 8:04 pm

VictorBorun wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 4:56 pm I am confused with this:
The signature of atomic hydrogen, shown in blue, shows up in the star itself but not immediately surrounding it. Instead, it appears outside the “bubble,” which spectra show is actually “filled” with molecular hydrogen (green) and complex hydrocarbons (red). This indicates that the bubble is actually the top of a dense pillar of dust and gas that is being blasted by radiation from the cluster of massive young stars to its lower right (see the full NIRCam image). It does not appear as pillar-like as some other structures in the nebula because there is not much color contrast with the area surrounding it.

Where is that pillar?

I think the pillar is here:

Starforming pillar near Tarantula Nebula Hubble.png

Pillars can be "standing up" as well as "hanging down". Their heads are always turned toward the source of ionization.

Consider the pillar structures in M16, the Eagle Nebula:


There are three major pillar structures in the Eagle Nebula, and I count the famous Pillars of Creation as one pillar structure. The large dark triangular structure "hanging down" is another one, and the "fairy-like creature" on the left is a third.

Ann
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Ann on Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
Color Commentator

User avatar
johnnydeep
Commodore
Posts: 3257
Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:57 pm

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by johnnydeep » Wed Sep 07, 2022 9:06 pm

Why does the large diffraction spike pattern rotate slightly between the two Webb images? I suppose Webb itself had rotated between the two imaging sessions?
Last edited by johnnydeep on Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
--
"To B̬̻̋̚o̞̮̚̚l̘̲̀᷾d̫͓᷅ͩḷ̯᷁ͮȳ͙᷊͠ Go......Beyond The F͇̤i̙̖e̤̟l̡͓d͈̹s̙͚ We Know."{ʲₒʰₙNYᵈₑᵉₚ}

User avatar
AVAO
Commander
Posts: 802
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 12:24 pm
AKA: multiwavelength traveller
Location: Zurich, Switzerland

Re: APOD: Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb (2022 Sep 07)

Post by AVAO » Wed Sep 07, 2022 9:56 pm

VictorBorun wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 6:14 pm Those stars are, however, inside a thick dust nebula; they may all be already born, may already have broken their tight dust cocons.
So the star of the perinatal story is a first
Ok I agree. That's right.

Click to view full size image 1 or image 2
jac berne (flickr) JWST overlay
Click to view full size image 1 or image 2
jac berne (flickr) Image 1: JWST Image 2: HST