The James Webb Space Telescope recently discovered a young protostar called HH 30, hidden 450 light-years away in the Taurus constellation. This protostar is a Herbig-Haro object, associated with newborn stars. Webb investigated the protoplanetary disk surrounding HH 30 in great detail, alongside observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and ALMA. By studying the luminous region, astronomers hope to understand how dust grains combine with massive jets to form planets.
The star formation process is complex, starting with a collapse of gas and dust due to gravity, leading to the formation of planets from a disk surrounding young stars. Webb’s ability to observe the universe in infrared light unveiled more features of the cosmic region compared to the Hubble Space Telescope. Combining data from Webb, Hubble, and ALMA allowed researchers to trace the movement and distribution of dust grains within the disc, a crucial step in planetary formation.
The James Webb Space Telescope, part of an international partnership between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, is the premier space science observatory in the world. Launched in 2021, it offers powerful infrared instruments and a gold-coated mirror, allowing it to make new cosmic discoveries. Webb has provided stunning views of planets, galaxies, and stars, enabling researchers to make observations like that of HH 30. The telescope plays a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the mysteries of star and planet formation in the cosmos.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
