New York, USA – The Hubble Space Telescope recently captured a breathtaking image of a glowing gas formation expelled from a dying star, resembling a “cosmic dumbbell.” This portrait, believed to show evidence of a dying star consuming another star before collapsing, was released by NASA to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Hubble’s launch on April 24, 1990.
Situated 3,400 light-years away in the Perseus constellation, the Little Dumbbell Nebula, also known as Messier 76 or M76, is a planetary nebula – a expanding shell of gases emitted by a dying red giant star. While the term “planetary nebula” may suggest a connection to planets, it actually refers to a rounded structure named by French astronomer Charles Messier in 1764 when he first discovered them.
The Little Dumbbell Nebula features a unique shape with a ring structure that appears like a central bar linking two lobes on either side of the ring. It is believed that before the red giant star collapsed, it released a ring of gas and dust that was shaped by a companion star, which eventually formed a thick disk within the nebula.
Astronomers speculate that the companion star, now missing from the image, may have been engulfed by the red giant star, hinting at a case of cosmic cannibalism. The red giant star, post-collapse, has transformed into a white dwarf star with a scorching temperature of 250,000 degrees Fahrenheit, making it significantly hotter than our sun.
The lobes seen in the image represent hot gas escaping at a speed of 2 million miles per hour, colliding with cooler gas previously expelled by the dying star. The collision results in different gases glowing in various colors, indicating different elements present in the nebula.
It is estimated by astronomers that within the next 15,000 years, the Little Dumbbell Nebula will vanish from the night sky as it continues to expand. This nebula is just one of 53,000 astronomical objects observed by the Hubble over its 34-year history, with 1.6 million observations made to date.
NASA emphasizes the importance of the Hubble Space Telescope as the most scientifically productive space astrophysics mission in history. Working in conjunction with the James Webb Space Telescope, these instruments provide crucial observations across different wavelengths of light, aiding astronomers in unlocking the mysteries surrounding supernovas, distant galaxies, exoplanets, and other celestial phenomena.