The James Webb Space Telescope, often referred to as the JWST, has captured a detailed image of SN1987A, a supernova that made its grand explosion back in 1987. This recent achievement has brought forth previously hidden insights about the history and evolution of this celestial event.
Understanding SN1987A
SN1987A is recognized as the nearest and brightest supernova that was visible from Earth in nearly four centuries. The supernova occurred in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is approximately 170,000 light-years away from our planet. The JWST has managed to unravel intricate details about SN1987A that were previously unknown, greatly contributing to our knowledge of these cosmic phenomena.
The ‘String of Pearls’
The alias ‘String of Pearls’ is used to describe SN1987A due to its series of luminous rings composed of gas and dust, which the dying star expelled during various phases of its collapse and explosion. These ejections happened around 20,000 years before the actual supernova event, providing us with valuable insights into the star’s history and evolution.
Intriguing Facts About SN1987A
What sets SN1987A apart is the fact that it exploded while it was still a blue supergiant, contrary to theories suggesting that only red supergiants can explode. Moreover, the emission of molecular hydrogen in the ring was not necessarily expected, a detail that could not have been unveiled without the JWST.
Note: The Magellanic Clouds, two irregular, satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way, provide an excellent environment for studying stellar formation and evolution. However, they are only visible to the naked eye in the Southern Hemisphere and cannot be observed from the majority of northern latitudes.
About James Webb Space Telescope
Regarded as the successor to the famous Hubble Telescope, the JWST is NASA’s most powerful infrared telescope. A result of international collaboration between NASA, the European and Canadian Space Agencies, the JWST has succeeded in capturing the deepest and finest infrared images of some of the most distant and oldest galaxies ever discovered.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQ)
An example of a related question from the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2023 is as follows:
Objects in space Description
1. Cepheids: Giant clouds of dust and gas in space
2. Nebulae: Stars which brighten and dim periodically
3. Pulsars: Neutron stars that are formed when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse
The question then asks: How many of the above pairs are correctly matched? The answer is none.
