NASA's Webb reveals nebula that resembles a cosmic brain

James Webb captured new images of the planetary nebula PMR 1 showing a split, brain-like interior divided by a dark vertical lane, and the nebula lies about 5,000 light-years away with the composite spanning roughly 3.2 light-years.

NASA released new James Webb Space Telescope images of the planetary nebula PMR 1, which show a split, brain-like interior divided by a dark vertical lane. Webb observed PMR 1 with NIRCam in the near-infrared and MIRI in the mid-infrared, revealing both an outer, skull-like shell and a more structured inner cloud. The images capture a relatively short-lived stage in a dying star's evolution and provide detail on how the star shed its outer layers. The nebula was first seen in infrared by the Spitzer telescope more than a decade ago. Key details: - The object is identified as the planetary nebula PMR 1 and lies in the constellation Vela at about 5,000 light-years from Earth. - Webb’s combined image spans roughly 3.2 light-years across and was made from near-infrared (NIRCam) and mid-infrared (MIRI) data. - The outer shell appears largely composed of hydrogen ejected earlier, while the inner cloud shows more structure and mixed gases. - A dark vertical lane divides the nebula’s hemispheres; Webb’s resolution suggests this feature could be related to an outburst or twin jets from the central star. - NASA noted the star’s mass is not yet determined, leaving open whether it will end as a white dwarf or, if sufficiently massive, as a supernova. Summary: The Webb images add detail about a brief phase of stellar death and the arrangement of ejected material, offering new observational clues for researchers studying how stars lose their outer layers. Undetermined at this time.