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Credit & Copyright: NASA,
ESA,
CSA,
STScI,
JWST;
Science:
Y. Han
(Caltech),
R. White
(Macquarie U.);
Image Processing:
A. Pagan
(STScI)
Explanation:
What created this unusual space sculpture?
Stars.
This unusual system of swirls and shells, known as
Apep, was observed in unprecedentedbdetail by
NASABs
James Webb Space Telescope in
infrared light
in 2024.
Observations indicate that the
unusual shape
originates from two massive
Wolf-Rayet stars orbiting each other every
190 years with each close passes causing a new shell of
dust and gas to be
expelled.
Holes in these shells are thought to be caused by a
third orbiting star.
This stellar dust
dance will likely continue for
hundreds of thousands of years,
possibly ending only when one of the
massive stars runs out of internal nuclear fuel and explodes in a
supernova punctuated by a
burst
of gamma-rays.
Build your own star system:
Astronomy Puzzle of the Day
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Wolf-Rayet star
Publications with words: Wolf-Rayet star
See also:
- APOD: 2025 March 17 B Thors Helmet
- APOD: 2025 February 3 B Wolf Rayet Star 124: Stellar Wind Machine
- APOD: 2025 January 29 B Dust Shells around WR 140 from Webb
- Sharpless 308: The Dolphin Head Nebula
- APOD: 2024 January 9 B Thors Helmet
- APOD: 2023 March 29 B Sh2-308: A Dolphin Shaped Star Bubble
- Wolf Rayet 124