NASA’s James Webb reveals new insights about iconic Supernova

WASHINGTON: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured new insights from the most renowned supernovae called SN 1987A that is located 168,000 light-years away. SN 1987A has been a target of intense ob-servations at wavelengths ranging from gamma rays to radio for nearly 40 years, since its discovery in February of 1987. New observations by Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) provide a crucial clue to our understanding of how a supernova develops over time to shape its remnant, NASA said in a statement.

Webb captured a detailed image of Supernova 1987A. At the centre, material ejected from the supernova forms a keyhole shape.

The image reveals a central structure like a keyhole. The centre is packed with clumpy gas and dust ejected by the supernova explosion. The dust is so dense that even near-infrared light that Webb de-tects can’t penetrate it, shaping the dark “hole” in the keyhole. (IANS)

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