Southern Ring Nebula

The bright star at the centre of the Southern Ring Nebula (also known as NGC 3132), plays a crucial role in shaping the surrounding nebula. A second star, faintly seen along one of the bright star’s diffraction spikes, serves as the nebula’s source, ejecting layers of gas and dust over millennia. The central star’s gravitational influence stirs turbulence, altering the intricate rings of this planetary nebula. These jagged rings result from material sprayed by the dimmer companion star as they orbit each other. Hundreds of straight, brightly lit lines pierce through the gas and dust rings, resembling spotlights streaming through holes in a cloud. However, not all starlight escapes; the teal central region’s density determines transparency or opacity. This detailed image, captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), reveals distant galaxies beyond the nebula. Transparent red sections represent these galaxies, including an edge on view of a faraway galaxy and various distant spirals. The smallest and reddest galaxies are the ones that are located farthest away.

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