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NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed the complex structure of NGC 1514, a planetary nebula developing over at least 4,000 years. Only seen in infrared light, the nebula’s rings now resemble “fuzzy” clusters set in twisted patterns. A network of sharper holes near the centre stars indicates where the faster materials are punched through. An orange arc of dust envelops the stars, which follow a close, elongated nine-year orbit. The leading actor in creating this scenario was one of these stars, formerly several times more massive than our Sun.

James Webb Space Telescope Reveals Dual Gas Rings Around Dying Star

The nebula’s hourglass shape is likely due to the star’s interaction with its companion and stellar evolution. Appearing more diffuse in the bottom left and top right and looking fuzzy or textured, the two rings of the nebula are unevenly illuminated by mid-infrared light. Oxygen was found in the clumped pink centre of the nebula, especially around the bubble or hole boundaries. NGC 1514 is notable for what is lacking since the expelled debris may have merged the orbits of the two central stars, therefore preventing the synthesis of complex molecules.

According to a press release, astronomers may investigate the last phases of a dying star with fresh James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) images. Showing a Taurus constellation planetary nebula 1,500 light-years from Earth, NGC 1514’s structure is found to be traced by two rings of expelled material generated by the main stars. For this as well, one employs gravitational pull. These rings present a special chance for investigation of the complicated interaction of star outflows throughout decades.

JWST Finds Clumped Gas and Oxygen in Binary Nebula System

As per earlier research, these two stars have, among planetary systems, one of the longest known nine-year orbits in the binary system. Astronomers believe that the creation of the nebula was mostly caused by the more massive of the two stars. The star most definitely changed quickly as it aged, losing layers of gas and dust through its stellar wind to produce a hot, compact core sometimes referred to as a white dwarf. Most likely, the earlier, slower-moving material was carried away by the faster, weaker winds from this white dwarf, generating quite faint, barely detectable in infrared light, clumped, filamentous rings.

Though carbon and complex components like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were strikingly uncommon, the JWST’s observations also identified oxygen in the clumped pink centre of the nebula. This substantial demand for the $10 billion JWST makes scientists more eager than ever to obtain the equivalent of nine years’ worth of telescope observation time in a single year.

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NASA Reveals a Fracture in Huge Cosmic Bone: Everything You Need to Know

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May 12, 2025

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NASA Reveals a Fracture in Huge Cosmic Bone: Everything You Need to Know

X-ray is a very common method that almost every individual is well aware of. However, ever wondered what an X-ray of the Milky Way would look like? Or is that even possible? Well, yes, it is. Recently, NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory has carried out an image of a recent scan, which revealed a fractured bone. As specified in Space.com, the bone-like structure, which was witnessed in the X-ray image, was derived from the radio data obtained by the MeerKAT Radio Array in South Africa and the National Science Foundation’s Very Large Array in New Mexico.

About the Cause of Fracture

According to the data obtained from Chandra’s X-ray, the fracture, also known as the galactic center filament, was caused by the impact from a pulsar. A pulsar is a spinning neutron star that emits radiation constantly at regular intervals. Revealed in Space.com, the scientists are highly skeptical about the speed of the pulsar, during slamming, would have been between one to two million miles per hour.

What is a Galactic Center Filament

Milky Way, undoubtedly, does not consist of bone. However, what looks like a real bone is a Galactic Center Filament, which is an amalgamation of structures crafted by the radio waves interwoven with the magnetic fields, right at the center of the Milky Way.

What did scientists discover?

As conveyed to Space.com, this is one of the brightest and longest galactic center filaments that have been detected so far. The distances of these filaments are 26,000 light-years and 230 light-years long. The bone has been named as G359.13142-0.20005.

The Scientist’s Verdict

Narrated to Space.com, the scientists suggest that the collision with the neutron stars would have dismantled the filament’s magnetic field, which further resulted in the fracture. The scientists are hopeful that the fracture will heal itself.

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NASA Telescopes Reveal Hidden Properties of X-Ray Pulsar RX J0032.9-7348

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May 12, 2025

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NASA Telescopes Reveal Hidden Properties of X-Ray Pulsar RX J0032.9-7348

Pulsars are neutron stars rotating rapidly, emitting electromagnetic radiation in various wavelengths, including radio waves, optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray. Identified as a X ray transient source in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) about 30 years ago, RX J0032.9-7348 has been classified as an X-ray Pulsar after detecting X-ray pulsations with a period of approximately 7.02 seconds after experiencing an X-ray brightening in October 2024.To take a closer look at it, astronomers have incorporated two NASA X-ray telescope, NICER and NuSTAR.

Discovery and Observational Campaign

According to Handbook of X-ray and Gamma ray Astrophysics, Accretion-powered X-ray pulsars (XRPs) are neutron stars within binary systems that emit X-rays in regular pulses, powered by the accretion of matter from a companion star. However, although RX J0032.9-7348 has been known for decades, very little is known regarding its properties and its optical counterpart has not been identified. Therefore, a team of astronomers led by Birendra Chhotaray of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, India, decided to take a closer look at this pulsar with NuSTAR and NICER.
Dr Chhotaray and his team were able to verify the X-ray pulsation period of RX J0032.9-7348 through their observations and they also discovered that this pulsar has a double-peak pulse profile throughout a wide energy range, with small changes in the form of energy dependence.

Findings

Results of the observational campaign, published on the arXiv preprint server, gives insight of the spin dynamics and luminosity of this pulsar. The accretion processes during the X-ray brightening phase increases its angular momentum. It results into a spin-up of approximately -0.00033 seconds per day.
The luminosity of the pulsar varied from 8.2 undecillion to 37 undecillion erg/s during the monitoring campaign. The researchers report that no evidence of iron emission line or cyclotron resonance scattering features was found in the energy spectrum of this source.

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Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos 482 Set to Re-Enter Earth After 53 Years in Single Piece



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Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos 482 Set to Re-Enter Earth After 53 Years in Single Piece

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May 12, 2025

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Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos 482 Set to Re-Enter Earth After 53 Years in Single Piece

Kosmos 482, under the USSR Venera program, was launched into space in 1972 to land on the second planet. However, the rocket malfunctioned and in Earth’s orbit, and it’s still revolving there ever since. Its rugged design lets it stay there and tolerate the atmosphere of Venus. This durability implies that it could survive reentry into Earth and remain intact with no impact. It is supposed to land either on 9 or 10 May without actually breaking anything up. The Aerospace Corporation is tracking it through the radar data provided by the U.S Space network surveillance.

When and Where Might It Land?

As per the current forecasts, ESA reports that the lander will re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere on Saturday, May 10, 12:37 PM EST, with an error margin of ±20.6 hours. Due to an orbital inclination of 52 degrees, it is possible that it could land between the vast regions including Australia, South America and Africa, and in water covering these areas. On the map, it is between 52 degrees North and 52 degrees south. It may fall into the ocean, as 70% of the Earth is water.

What Happens If It Survives Reentry?

If Kosmos 482 reaches the Earth in one piece, the speed would be 150-250 km per hour. The structure would be the same, that is, around 1 meter in diameter and 495 kgs in weight. The scientists predict that the parachute system must have no longer been there after 53 years in space.

Exact Timing Become Challenging

Solar activities, such as storms, are adding complexity to the radar data sometimes which in turn is impacting the reentry timings. Langbroek says, The Sun does whatever it wants to do, making it difficult to analyse the exact hours until the last moment.

Risk to the Public Is Low

Scientists say that the risk to humans is minimal, with a 0.4% chance of death or even injury. It will come down as a single object, with no debris risk. However, if anyone happens to encounter is should stay away and not touch it, simply report to the local authorities.

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NASA’s SPHEREx Telescope Begins 3D Infrared Mapping of the Universe



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