New NASA research has revealed the secret behind the wings of the Butterfly Nebula. It is noteworthy that most nebulae are circular, but this nebula is different.
NASA has dazzled and astounded the public with incredible images of objects found in deep space. Whether these images are of stars, planets, the Sun, galaxies, asteroids, comets and other celestial bodies, they are simply breathtaking. Now, NASA has shared an incredible image of a unique Nebula known as NGC 6302, which looks like the wings of a Butterfly. You have read correctly. Most nebulae are roughly circular in shape, but only a few have an hourglass or winged shape known as the “Butterfly Nebula”. But what gave this Butterfly Nebula its wings? NASA reveals the secret behind the amazing phenomenon
How the Butterfly Nebula got its wings
Notably, the wings are formed by the gravitational pull of a second star orbiting the nebula’s “mother” star, which allows matter to expand into a pair of wings, Science Daily reported. Over time, these wings grow without changing their original shape. However, a team led by astronomers at the University of Washington D.C compare two images of NASA’s Hubble Spatial telescope in 2009 and 2020, showing significant changes in the nebula’s wings.
The study revealed that “about half a dozen ‘jets’ – starting about 2,300 years ago and ending 900 years ago – eject matter in a series of asymmetrical flows.” It adds that matter is moving rapidly in the outer part of the Nebula at a dizzying speed of 500 miles per second. On the other hand, matter near the star’s center is moving at a much slower rate, roughly a tenth of that speed. The paths of the material intersect to form a complex structure inside the wings.
However, the study also says that the nebula’s multipolar and rapidly changing internal structure is complex to explain using current models of planetary nebula formation and evolution. It is highly likely that the center of the Nebula may have merged with another companion star and used matter from a nearby star to create a complex magnetic field and produce rays.
This new study and other time-lapse analyzes of planetary nebulae could help understand how the matter of tomorrow’s star systems will form. In addition, it would explain how our oasis building blocks were created and assembled billions of years ago,” the study said.
