Key Takeaways
1. Crystalline silicates have been found in comets located in cold regions like the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud.
2. These silicates require high temperatures to form, raising questions about their presence in comets.
3. Scientists used the Webb telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to study a protostar called EC 53.
4. The star undergoes a 100-day burst phase, consuming gas and dust while ejecting strong jets.
5. These jets can carry crystalline silicates to the outer regions of the protoplanetary disk, where comets are found.
Astronomers have identified crystalline silicates within comets. These comets are found in extremely cold areas such as the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. However, crystalline silicates need a lot of heat to develop. So, what explains their presence in comets? The recent Webb observation offers some answers.
Observing the Protostar
For this research, a group of scientists utilized Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to study a protostar known as EC 53. They found that crystalline silicates originated from the hot inner section of the gas and dust disk that surrounds the star, which is known as a protoplanetary disk.
The Star’s Activity
The observations reveal that the star enters a dramatic 100-day burst phase. During this event, the young star consumes surrounding gas and dust while simultaneously ejecting strong jets and outflows. Webb detected that these powerful outflows can propel the crystalline silicates to the outer regions of the star’s protoplanetary disk. In relation to our solar system, this outer region is where comets are typically located.
This finding supports the reasoning behind the presence of heat-created crystalline silicates in comets, which are often thought of as icy snowballs. The results of this study were shared in the journal Nature on January 21.
Nature via NASA
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