The spectacular Horsehead Nebula

It was captured in impressive observations. Thanks to that, impressive features of this set were revealed. The spectacular Horsehead Nebula has never been seen like this before.

Images taken with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) show its structure in never-before-seen detail. A specially selected combination of more than 20 filters was used. It allowed scientists to take high-resolution images, capturing the tendrils and filaments of the cosmic cloud. Also the radiation from grains smaller than 20 nanometers and other particles contained in the nebula.

The spectacular Horsehead Nebula is shown in great detail.
The spectacular Horsehead Nebula is shown in great detail.

star horse

The Horsehead Nebula owes its name to its visual resemblance to the figure of this animal. It constitutes an agglomeration of dust and gas that is part of the Orion molecular cloud complex.

From afar, Cabeza de Caballo looks like a dark hole. But when approached or seen in other light spectrums, it takes on the appearance of a luminous cloud. The glow comes from an external source. It is a complex of young and large stars called Sigma Orionis. They emit light at a temperature of about 34,600 Kelvin.

Inside the nebula there are also stars in the formation phase. However, it is practically impossible to see them behind the dust of Cabeza de Caballo. It is notable that the radiation from young stars outside the nebula has a destructive effect on surrounding objects. This process is called photodissociation. It causes molecules to break down under the influence of the emitted ultraviolet rays.

In this way, the Horsehead space nebula forms a kind of protective barrier for stars still in formation. All these factors make this nebula and the photodissociation region that surrounds it a topic of great interest for scientific research.

James Webb achieved the remarkable images.
James Webb achieved the remarkable images.

Secrets revealed

The images taken will also serve as a basis for subsequent studies. These will allow us to create a detailed model of the stages of development of cosmic nebulae. Even the evaporation and release of newborn stars.

The spectacular Horsehead Nebula reveals new secrets to astronomers. The article was published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

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