Astronomers were recently astounded by a discovery made using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. When the telescope was directed toward a cluster of young stars known as WL 20, it revealed a hidden secret that had eluded scientists for decades.
Since the 1970s, WL 20 has been under the scrutiny of at least five different telescopes. However, it was Webb’s exceptional resolution and specialized instruments that unveiled the true nature of WL 20S, a star previously thought to be singular. Webb's observations revealed that WL 20S is actually a pair of stars that formed approximately 2 to 4 million years ago.
The discovery was made using Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which was highlighted at the 244th meeting of the American Astronomical Society on June 12. This advanced instrument also detected matching jets of gas emanating from the north and south poles of the twin stars.
Astronomer Mary Barsony, the lead author of the study, expressed her amazement, saying, “Our jaws dropped. After studying this source for decades, we thought we knew it pretty well. But without MIRI, we would not have known this was two stars or that these jets existed. That’s really astonishing. It’s like having brand new eyes.”
Further observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile added to the excitement. ALMA, comprising over 60 radio antennas, discovered disks of dust and gas encircling both stars. Given the stars' age, it's conceivable that these disks are sites where planets are beginning to form.
The combined data suggest that these twin stars are nearing the end of their formative years. This transition phase offers scientists a unique opportunity to study how stars evolve from their youth into adulthood.
Mike Ressler, project scientist for MIRI at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of the discovery. “The power of these two telescopes together is really incredible. If we hadn’t seen that these were two stars, the ALMA results might have just looked like a single disk with a gap in the middle. Instead, we have new data about two stars that are clearly at a critical point in their lives, when the processes that formed them are petering out.”
WL 20 is located in the Rho Ophiuchi region, a massive star-forming area within the Milky Way, roughly 400 light-years from Earth. This region is heavily shrouded in gas and dust, which blocks visible light. However, Webb’s infrared capabilities allow it to penetrate these clouds, revealing details that are invisible to the human eye.
The synergy between Webb’s MIRI and ALMA’s capabilities provided a comprehensive view of WL 20. While MIRI detects the longest infrared wavelengths, ideal for viewing obscured star-forming regions, ALMA observes submillimeter wavelengths emitted by disks of gas and dust. This complementary data ensures a clearer understanding of stellar formation and evolution.
Ressler added, “It’s amazing that this region still has so much to teach us about the life cycle of stars. I’m thrilled to see what else Webb will reveal.”
The James Webb Space Telescope, managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, stands as the world’s premier space science observatory. It continues to unravel the mysteries of our solar system and beyond, exploring distant worlds and probing the origins of the universe.
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