The Webb telescope captures the image of an explosive star, an invaluable finding.
Strange cosmic perspective.
Recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have surprisingly captured an image of a supernova. This stellar event is unique because, from our perspective in the galaxy, the explosion appears to repeat itself three times, arranged in a distorted line, much like a deformed mirror. This distortion effect occurs because certain objects in space, such as galaxy clusters, can bend the spacetime around them, resembling the impact of a bowling ball on a mattress. This phenomenon creates a "cosmic lens" that not only distorts light but also magnifies and brightens it.
Brenda Frye, an astronomer at the University of Arizona and part of the research team, explained that the lens, composed of a galaxy cluster situated between the supernova and us, blesses the light of the supernova into multiple images. To better understand this visual triptych, she indicated that the term "trifold mirror" is more appropriate, similar to how a vanity mirror presents three different images of a person.
This mirror effect is highly useful for astronomers as it allows them to analyze variations in the light from the distant supernova to measure the expansion of the universe, which continues to accelerate. Frye noted that the light from the supernova traveled along three different paths. Since each path is of differing length and considering that light travels at the same speed, the supernova was observed at three distinct moments during its explosion. Again making the mirror analogy, each image shows a different moment of an action, such as lifting a comb or styling hair.
This supernova, designated "H0pe" — with "H0" being the abbreviation for "Hubble constant," referring to the rate of expansion of the universe — has provided measurements indicating an expansion of 75.4 kilometers per second per megaparsec, with a margin of error ranging from 8.1 to 5.5 parsecs. To provide context, one parsec is equivalent to 3.26 light-years.
The Webb Telescope, a result of collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency, was designed to explore the deepest parts of the universe and provide new perspectives on its formation. However, it is also studying planets in our galaxy and other bodies within the solar system. The telescope features a mirror over 21 feet in diameter, more than two and a half times the size of the Hubble telescope's mirror, allowing it to capture more light and see more distant and ancient objects, some of which formed more than 13 billion years ago.
Additionally, Webb operates primarily in the infrared spectrum, enabling it to view more parts of the universe, as infrared light waves can more easily penetrate dense cosmic clouds than visible light. This will allow researchers to explore distant worlds with new tools for chemical analysis, identifying molecules such as water and carbon dioxide in the atmospheres of exoplanets. In summary, the telescope is set to transform our understanding of the cosmos and explore mysteries that remain unknown to us.
