New Webb Telescope photos show off the Exposed Cranium Nebula

"The nebula appears to have distinct regions that capture different phases of its evolution - an outer shell of gas that was blown off first and consists mostly of hydrogen, and an inner cloud with more structure that contains a mix of different gases. The dark line that runs vertically through the nebula, giving it the cranial appearance, could be the result of an outburst or outflow from the central star, which typically occurs as twin jets burst out in opposite directions."

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured new images of Nebula PMR 1, nicknamed the Exposed Cranium Nebula for its brain-like appearance. The nebula displays distinct regions representing different evolutionary stages, including an outer shell of hydrogen gas expelled first and an inner cloud containing mixed gases with more complex structure. A dark vertical line running through the nebula, creating its distinctive cranial shape, likely results from outbursts or outflows from the central star, where twin jets burst outward in opposite directions. Both the telescope's Near-Infrared Camera and Mid-Infrared Instrument were used to document this celestial structure, potentially capturing a dying star's final stages.

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