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Herbig-Haro 46/47 (NIRCam Compass Image)
Six near-infrared images from NIRCam (the Near-Infrared Camera) aboard the James Webb Space Telescope make up this composite of Herbig-Haro 46/47.
The north and east compass arrows show the orientation of the image on the sky. Note that the relationship between north and east on the sky (as seen from below) is flipped relative to direction arrows on a map of the ground (as seen from above).
This image shows invisible near-infrared wavelengths of light that have been translated into visible-light colors. The color key shows which NIRCam filters were used when collecting the light. The color of each filter name is the visible-light color used to represent the infrared light that passes through that filter.
The scale bar is labeled in arcminutes, which is a measure of angular distance on the sky. One arcminute is equal an angular measurement equal to 1/60 of one degree. (The full Moon has an angular diameter of about 30 arcminutes.) The actual size of an object that covers one arcminute on the sky depends on its distance from the telescope.
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.08:25:43.6
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.-50:00:36
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Vela
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.1470 light-years
- DimensionsDimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.Image is 7.3 arcmin across (about 3.1 light-years)
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.This image was created from JWST data from proposal: 4441 (K. Pontoppidan)
- InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.NIRCam
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.May 24, 2023
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.F115W, F187N, F200W, F335M, F444W, F470N
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.HH 46/47
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.A complex of Herbig-Haro objects
- Release DateJuly 26, 2023
- Science ReleaseWebb Snaps Highly Detailed Infrared Image of Actively Forming Stars
- CreditImage: NASA, ESA, CSA; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton Koekemoer (STScI)
These images are a composite of separate exposures acquired by the James Webb Space Telescope using the NIRCam instrument. Several filters were used to sample specific wavelength ranges. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic (grayscale) image associated with an individual filter. In this case, the assigned colors are: Blue: F115W, Cyan: F187N, Green: F200W, Yellow: F335M, Orange: F444W, Red: F470N
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Herbig-Haro 46/47 (NIRCam Image)
These stars have a lot of energy to let loose! NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured a tightly bound pair of actively forming stars, known as Herbig-Haro 46/47, in high-resolution near-infrared light. Look for them at the center of the red diffraction spikes. The stars...
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Laura Betz
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov
NASA, ESA, CSA
Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton Koekemoer (STScI)
