Rahul Somvanshi
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured stunning new images of the Butterfly Nebula, revealing hidden details that could help explain how Earth-like planets form. Located about 3,400 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius, this cosmic structure shows us what happens when stars like our Sun reach the end of their lives.
At the center of the nebula sits an incredibly hot white dwarf star, reaching temperatures of about 220,000 Kelvin (nearly 400,000 degrees Fahrenheit) – making it one of the hottest known central stars in a planetary nebula in our galaxy. Until now, this central star remained hidden behind thick dust, but Webb’s infrared technology has finally pierced through this veil.
The new Webb observations reveal a doughnut-shaped torus (ring) of dust surrounding the star. This dust contains crystalline silicates like quartz and irregularly shaped dust grains measuring about one-millionth of a meter – considered large for cosmic dust. These materials are important building blocks for rocky planets like Earth.
“This discovery is a big leap forward in understanding how the basic materials of planets come together,” explains lead researcher Dr. Mikako Matsuura of Cardiff University. “We were able to see both cool gemstones formed in calm, long-lasting zones and fiery grime created in violent, fast-moving parts of space, all within a single object.”
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Perhaps most exciting is the discovery of carbon-based molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in this oxygen-rich environment. Scientists believe these molecules form when a “bubble” of wind from the central star bursts into the surrounding gas – likely the first evidence of PAHs forming in an oxygen-rich planetary nebula. On Earth, we find similar molecules in smoke from campfires or even burnt toast.
Using Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), researchers identified nearly 200 spectral lines that reveal the nebula’s chemical composition. The data shows a multilayered structure with high-energy ions concentrated near the center and lower-energy ones farther out. Iron and nickel trace twin jets blasting outward from the star in opposite directions.
Despite its name, a planetary nebula has nothing to do with planets. The term dates back centuries when astronomers thought these round, glowing objects resembled planets through early telescopes. The Butterfly Nebula gets its nickname from its distinctive wing-like shape, caused by gas flowing in two opposite directions.
This spectacular phase in a star’s death is relatively brief, lasting only about 20,000 years before the expelled material becomes too dispersed to see. During this time, the dying star enriches space with elements and compounds that will eventually form new stars, planets, and possibly the building blocks for life.
The research was published August 27, 2025, in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
