Glowing Question Mark Photobombs NASA's Latest James Webb Space Telescope Image

John Lopez, Tech Times 13 August 2023, 06:08 pm

A strange glowing question mark form has taken the spotlight in one of NASA's most recent images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

The image, released on July 26, showcased a pair of youthful stars named Herbig-Haro 46/47, located 1,470 light-years away within the Vela constellation of our Milky Way galaxy.

These stars, actively undergoing the process of formation and engaged in a tight orbital dance, have been observed by various telescopes since the 1950s.

However, the unveiling of this high-resolution image by the JWST has uncovered an enigmatic guest photobombing the stellar scene.

The JWST, renowned for its capacity to peer into the universe with extended wavelengths of light, revealed a celestial question mark in the image's background.

Zoom in and see the cosmic question mark yourself here.

The Cosmic Question Mark

This extraordinary discovery has astronomers, scientists, and enthusiasts pondering its origin and significance. Experts concur that the cosmic question mark is unlike anything seen before, leaving more queries than answers.

Going goblin mode.

Within the orange-white splotch at the center of this image are 2 chaotic baby stars. Over thousands of years, the pair repeatedly gobbled up, then spat out the gas and dust around them — producing those fiery orange lobes: https://t.co/lSOy5uyCYD pic.twitter.com/jHVu6YlGXv
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) July 26, 2023

CNN reports that Matt Caplan, an assistant professor of physics at Illinois State University, elucidated that the distinct absence of characteristic diffraction spikes indicates that the object is not a star.

JWST's unique ability to expose even six or eight stellar "prongs" refutes the possibility of a star and deepens the intrigue surrounding the object.

More Assumptions

One hypothesis proposes that the question mark shape may originate from the merger of two galaxies situated billions of light-years away.

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), which takes care of JWST's scientific work, tells Space.com that what we are looking at is likely a faraway galaxy. It could also be a case of galaxies interacting with each other, possibly leading to the unusual shape resembling a distorted question mark.

Christopher Britt, an education and outreach scientist at STScI, explained that galaxies occasionally collide with their neighboring counterparts as they evolve over cosmic epochs. This collision can distort their forms, including the captivating shape of a question mark.

Interestingly, merging galaxies taking curious forms is not entirely unprecedented. The iconic Antennae Galaxies in the Corvus constellation have previously exhibited a backward version of this phenomenon.

Britt emphasized that numerous galaxies have undergone similar interactions throughout history, although these shapes are often transient.

What's Next?

As with many space-related discoveries, concrete conclusions can prove elusive. Caplan emphasized the dynamic nature of space, where galactic movements defy easy categorization.

This cosmic choreography even extends to our Milky Way, destined to merge with the Andromeda galaxy in an unfathomable span of four billion years.

While observations and speculations concerning the mysterious question mark object continue, gathering more spectroscopic data remains crucial. Such data could provide insights into its distance and chemical composition, potentially unraveling its true nature.

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