Gaze in Awe at This Breathtaking Hubble Image of an Outburst From a Baby Star

A baby star in the process of forming has been captured in a spectacular Hubble image.

The cloud of gas in the star-forming region is heating up at supersonic speeds, thanks to the jets of a protostar. The structure known as a Herbig-Haro object is a short-lived and beautiful structure.

The Herbig-Haro object is one of the most spectacular phenomena we can see. That is not all it is. These fleeting outbursts, which can be observed changing on a scale of Earth years, contain clues that can help us figure out how baby stars are born.

The baby star made a loud noise. NASA, B. Nisini.

A specific set of circumstances is needed for a Herbig-Haro object to form. A baby star is known as a Protostar. Protostars are formed from dense clumps of gas and dust in a cloud. The material from the cloud around the stars starts to accumulate as this cradle spins.

During this process, the protostar can blow out its own jets. It is thought that some of the material around the star gets funneled along its magnetic field lines.

When the material reaches the poles, the magnetic field lines accelerate particles so that they can be launched into space at high speeds. The material was ionized and turned into a liquid.

Hubble images of HH 34 were earlier. P. Hartigan is from Rice University.

For a Herbig-Haro object, these jets travel at hundreds of kilometers per hour and slam into the surrounding cloud. The material glows bright when hot temperatures occur.

It is easier for us to observe the jets. The star starts to produce a powerful wind as it grows. The wind and jets are referred to as Protostellar feedback, which is very important for the evolution of the star.

The material around the star is thought to cut off its growth. The final mass of a fully grown star is directly related to Protostellar feedback.

The image of HH 34 was taken by Hubble in 2015. The Hubble Telescope and NASA.

The multiple bow shocks of HH 34 define the extent of the jets. The Hubble Space Telescope imaged it many times. The most recent image is this one.

Scientists can observe how the jet expands over time because of how quickly Herbig-Haro objects evolve. This can help map the cloud around the young star.

Our understanding of these jets will be greatly improved by the James Webb Space Telescope. It will be possible to peer into the densely dusty region around a protostar to learn more about how these jets are launched.

You can download the images from the website.