The Hubble Space Telescope commemorates its 34th anniversary with a captivating new portrait of a dying star’s glowing gas, resembling a “cosmic dumbbell,” possibly offering clues to a stellar cannibalism event. NASA unveiled the image of the Little Dumbbell Nebula, or Messier 76, to mark the telescope’s launch anniversary on April 24, 1990.
Located 3,400 light-years away in the Perseus constellation, this planetary nebula, despite its name, has no association with planets. Its rounded structure earned planetary nebulae their name when first discovered by Charles Messier in 1764. Pierre Méchain spotted the Little Dumbbell Nebula in 1780, and it has intrigued astronomers ever since due to its unique appearance.
This new image suggests a potential case of cosmic cannibalism. The nebula’s ring, which resembles a central bar connecting two lobes, was likely influenced by a companion star before the red giant star’s collapse. While the companion star is not visible in the image, it is theorized that the red giant consumed it. Scientists hope to find evidence of this event within the nebula.
Following its collapse, the red giant evolved into an ultra-dense white dwarf with a scorching temperature of 250,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This white dwarf, visible as a bright point at the nebula’s center, is one of the hottest known.
The two lobes in the portrait depict hot gas propelled by the dying star at incredible speeds, interacting with cooler gas expelled earlier in its lifetime. The collision produces the nebula’s intricate structure and vibrant colors, such as red for nitrogen and blue for oxygen.
Astronomers estimate that within 15,000 years, the nebula will dissipate completely from the night sky as it continues to expand and dim.
This image adds to Hubble’s vast legacy of over 53,000 astronomical observations in its 34 years of operation, contributing to 1.6 million observations to date. Working in tandem with the James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble provides invaluable insights into supernovas, distant galaxies, exoplanets, and other celestial phenomena, further unraveling the mysteries of the universe.