A star system’s carbon-rich dust shells are forming and expanding observed by the Webb Telescope

The Wolf-Rayet 140 system, a pair of massive stars in the Milky Way, has been the focus of detailed research, uncovering the creation and outward movement of carbon-rich dust shells. Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have revealed 17 concentric shells expanding steadily at a speed equivalent to about 1 percent of the speed of light. This discovery sheds light on how life-essential elements like carbon are dispersed throughout the cosmos, enhancing our understanding of cosmic evolution.

According to NASA’s recent findings, the two stars follow an elongated orbital path. When their orbits bring them closest together, their powerful stellar winds collide, compressing material that forms the carbon-rich dust. Emma Lieb, a doctoral researcher at the University of Denver and lead author of the study, explained that Webb’s precise data confirmed the uniform speed of the expanding shells.

Over a 14-month observation period, these shells were observed visibly moving outward, with the dust traveling at an impressive rate of over 1,600 miles per second. Jennifer Hoffman, a University of Denver professor and study co-author, highlighted the unusual nature of this system, noting its rapid evolution compared to the typical slow timelines of most astronomical phenomena.

The formation of the dust was shown to occur every eight years when the two stars reach their closest point in orbit. Ryan Lau, an astronomer at NSF NOIRLab and co-author of the research, stressed the importance of mid-infrared imaging in identifying these cooler dust formations. He emphasized that capturing the dust formation process with such precision offers invaluable insights into the mechanisms of cosmic material creation.

As for the future of the system, the larger star, known as a Wolf-Rayet star, is nearing the end of its life and is expected to either explode as a supernova or collapse into a black hole. Lau pointed out that the survival of this carbon-rich dust could provide crucial answers about the origins of cosmic dust and its role in the formation of rocky planets and solar systems.