In a recent research study released in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, a global team of researchers led by Stanford University have actually produced the very first computer-generated 3D design of the Cats Eye Nebula, which revealed a symmetric pair of rings that confine the outer shell of the nebula. This study holds the potential for helping us better understanding the nebulas makeup and how it formed, as the symmetric rings offers ideas that they were formed from a precessing jet, which produces strong verification that a binary star exists at the nebulas.
The Cats Eye Nebula, likewise called NGC 6543, lies roughly 3,000 light-years from Earth, and is one of the most breathtaking pictures of the night sky. Like most planetary nebulas, it was formed when the outer layer of gas is ejected by a passing away solar-mass star. Images from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) expose a complicated composition of arc-like filaments, knots, and spherical shells, which only contributes to its beauty.
The strange structure of Cats Eye has surprised researchers for years, as they couldnt figure out how conventional theories of planetary nebula formation might explain its intricate shape. Research recently demonstrated that precessing jets might function as shaping systems in nebulae such as NGC 6543, but at the exact same time did not have a detail model to substantiate these claims.
Eliminate All Ads on Universe Today
Join our Patreon for as little as $3!
Get the ad-free experience for life
The Cats Eye Nebula, likewise known as NGC 6543, is located roughly 3,000 light-years from Earth, and is one of the most spectacular images of the night sky. Combining this data with images from HST, Clairmont was able to develop an unique 3D model of Cats Eye, demonstrating that high-density gas rings covered the nebulas outer shell. Given that the time scale of jet outflows demonstrates an important piece of information relating to the total theory of planetary nebulae, the findings point to strong proof that a binary star exists at the center of Cats Eye, considering that only binary stars are accountable for a planetary nebulas precessing jet.
” When I first saw the Cats Eye Nebula, I was amazed by its stunning, completely symmetric structure,” stated Clairmont. Precessing jets in planetary nebulae are reasonably rare, so its essential to comprehend how they contribute to the shaping of more complex systems like the Cats Eye.
That was till Ryan Clairmont, a prospective undergraduate at Stanford University, astronomy enthusiast, and lead author of the research study, took the initiative to produce a 3D structure of Cats Eye in hopes of discussing its special shape that standard astrophysics had trouble explaining. He employed the aid of Dr. Nico Koning of the University of Calgary, who developed SHAPE, which is a 3D astrophysical modeling software application that is suitable for modeling planetary nebulae, and Dr. Wolfgang Steffen of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
For the study, the scientists made use of spectral information from the San Pedro Martir National Observatory in Mexico to reassemble the nebulas 3D structure. Integrating this information with images from HST, Clairmont had the ability to build an unique 3D model of Cats Eye, demonstrating that high-density gas rings covered the nebulas outer shell. The truth that the rings were practically perfectly in proportion recommends they were formed by a jet, which is a high-density gas stream that is ejected from the nebula in opposite instructions.
The jets themselves showed whats known as precession, just like a spinning tops wobbling movement. As the jet precessed over time, a circle was outline that eventually produced the rings we now observe around Cats Eye. However, the data shows the rings were brief, which suggests the precessing jet never completed a total 360-degree circle. Given that the time scale of jet outflows shows an essential piece of info referring to the general theory of planetary nebulae, the findings point to strong evidence that a binary star exists at the center of Cats Eye, since just binary stars are responsible for a planetary nebulas precessing jet.
As both the direction and angle of the jet altered gradually, they are most likely accountable for the current functions we observe within Cats Eye, including the knots and jets. Armed with their new 3D design, the research group was able compute both the opening angle and tilt of the precessing jet based upon the rings orientation.
” When I first saw the Cats Eye Nebula, I was astounded by its gorgeous, perfectly symmetric structure,” said Clairmont. “I was much more surprised that its 3D structure was not completely understood. It was extremely rewarding to be able to do astrophysical research study of my own that really has an effect in the field. Precessing jets in planetary nebulae are reasonably rare, so its crucial to comprehend how they add to the shaping of more complex systems like the Cats Eye. Eventually, comprehending how they form offers insight into the eventual fate of our Sun, which will itself one day end up being a planetary nebula.”
As always, keep doing science & & keep looking up!
Featured Image: Side-by-side contrast of the 3D design of the Cats Eye Nebula produce by Ryan Clairmont and his research team and Cats Eye Nebula as imaged by Hubble. (Credit: Ryan Clairmont (left) and NASA/ESA/HEIC/ Hubble Heritage Team (Space Telescope Science Institute/AURA) (right); License Type: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
Like this: Like Loading …