Latest news with #HD181327
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
James Webb telescope discovers frozen water around alien star
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. In a milestone discovery, astronomers have announced that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected water ice drifting through a dusty ring of debris surrounding a distant, sunlike star. Astronomers have long suspected that water, especially in its frozen form, might be common in the cold, outer reaches of planetary systems beyond our own. That's because in our own solar system, Saturn's moon Enceladus, Jupiter's Ganymede and Europa, and other icy moons are known to contain vast amounts of frozen water. Some of these moons are even thought to harbor subsurface oceans of liquid water, fueling ongoing discussions about their potential to support life. Now, with JWST's confirmation last week, scientists say they can begin exploring how water — a key ingredient for life as we know it — is distributed and transported in other planetary systems. The new discovery centers on a star called HD 181327, located about 155 light-years away, in the constellation Telescopium. At just 23 million years old, HD 181327 is a cosmic infant compared with our 4.6 billion-year-old sun, and it's encircled by a broad, dusty debris disk that is rich in small, early building blocks of planets. "HD 181327 is a very active system," study co-author Christine Chen, a research scientist at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, said in a NASA statement. Frequent collisions between icy bodies in this disk are constantly stirring up fine particles of dusty water ice, which are "perfectly sized for Webb to detect," Chen said. The findings, published May 15 in the journal Nature, suggest these "dirty snowballs" of ice and dust could eventually play a key role in delivering water to future rocky planets that may form over the next few hundred million years. As planets take shape within the disk, comets and other icy bodies could collide with the young worlds and shower them with water — a process thought to have helped seed early Earth with the water that sustains life today. Related: Did the James Webb telescope really find evidence of alien life? Here's the truth about exoplanet K2-18b. RELATED STORIES —Astronomers discover doomed planet shedding a Mount Everest's worth of material every orbit, leaving behind a comet-like tail —James Webb telescope could find signs of life on alien 'hycean' ocean worlds —4 tiny, Earth-like planets found circling 2nd-closest star system to us — and could be visited by future human generations JWST revealed that most of the distant star system's water ice is concentrated in the outer regions of the disk, where temperatures are cold enough for it to remain stable. Closer in, the ice becomes increasingly scarce, likely vaporized by the star's ultraviolet radiation or locked away in larger rocky bodies known as planetesimals, which remain invisible to JWST's infrared instruments. According to the research team, the debris disk around HD 181327 resembles what the Kuiper Belt — the vast, doughnut-shaped region of icy bodies beyond Neptune — likely looked like billions of years ago during the early stages of our solar system's evolution. "What's most striking is that this data looks similar to the telescope's other recent observations of Kuiper Belt objects in our own solar system," Chen said in the statement.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
James Webb Space Telescope discovers an alien planetary system's icy edge
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. At long last, particles of water–ice have been discovered in the frozen Kuiper Belt of another star. The discovery, made by the James Webb Space Telescope, is a major step forward in filling in gaps in our understanding of how exoplanets develop. Like the Kuiper Belt in our solar system, this extraterrestrial debris disk is likely filled with comets, dwarf planets and a lot of water-ice particles chipped off larger bodies as the result of collisions. The debris disk, also like our Kuiper Belt, is made up of remnants of a larger disk that once encircled the star — called HD 181327 — and probably gave birth to planets. To be clear, however, no planets in the region have been detected thus far. Because water is one of the most common molecules in the universe, its presence in HD 181327's debris disk is not a surprise. Indeed, exocomets have been detected around other stars; in our solar system, comets come from the frigid, icy Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud, so exocomets must originate from somewhere similar. However, while debris disks around other stars have been known about and imaged ever since the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) found debris disks around two nearby stars (Vega and beta Pictoris) a while back, we've not had an instrument able to detect water-ice within them until now. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and its Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRSpec), astronomers led by Chen Xie of Johns Hopkins University in the United States probed the debris disk around HD 181327. The star and its debris disk have previously been well-studied. Located 155.6 light-years away, they are just 18.5 million years old. This is extremely young compared to our sun's age of 4.6 billion years. The star is an F-type, meaning it's a little hotter and slightly more massive than our sun. NIRSpec detected the signature water in HD 181327's spectrum, principally at a wavelength of 3 microns (millionths of a meter), with a peak coming at 3.1 microns. This spike in the spectrum, referred to as a "Fresnel peak," is caused by the refraction of light by water-ice particles that are just millimeters in size. This is similar in size to the icy particles in Saturn's rings, for example, and the ice is likely frozen around motes of interplanetary dust. "Basically, we detected a water–ice reservoir," Xie told This water–ice reservoir could be instrumental in the development of any planetary system that might exist around HD 181327. Gas giant planets, for example, form beyond a boundary called the snow line, which is the distance from a star where temperatures are cold enough for planet-forming material to contain water-ice. Water-ice helps material stick together in a giant kind of mush that can form the basis of a large, rocky planetary core that can then pull in gas to form the distended atmosphere of a giant planet. The water on terrestrial planets such as Earth also likely was delivered by asteroids and/or comets that formed beyond the snow line and are rich in water-ice. Therefore, the discovery of water-ice in HD 181327's debris disk means the materials are present there to aid in the development of any planets orbiting the star, although at this time no planets have yet been detected in the system. "The presence of a water-ice reservoir in the planetesimal belt around HD 181327 provides the potential to deliver water to nearby planets," said Xie. "But we don't know how much water-ice could eventually be delivered to the planets in the system." It's tempting to make comparisons between our Kuiper Belt and HD 181327's debris disk. Xie warns about being too literal in the comparison, though, because there are significant gaps in our knowledge of both icy belts and how they relate to each other. Nevertheless, we can draw some general conclusions. "The presence of water-ice in a debris disk around such a young star does suggest that icy planetesimals can form relatively quickly, so it's possible that icy bodies in our own Kuiper Belt could have formed early in the cold outer regions of the solar system," he said. Their early existence could have then helped in the development of the solar system's planets. However, the planet-forming disk around HD 181327 has now dissipated, and any planets that are present will have already formed. Furthermore, the JWST's observations show how the inner region of the debris disk is being eroded by the star's ultraviolet light. The strength of the spectral line for water-ice at the inner edge of the debris disk, 80 to 90 astronomical units (meaning 80 to 90 times Earth's distance from the sun), suggests water-ice makes up just 0.1% of the total mass in that part of the disk. Farther out, between 90 and 105 astronomical units, the water-ice mass fraction rises to 7.5%, and between 105 and 120 astronomical units it peaks at 21%, out where it is coldest. Coincidentally, the Fresnel peak is found between 90 and 105 astronomical units. So, what's going on? Ultraviolet light from the star is able to vaporize the water-ice, but something seems to be replenishing it — otherwise, the water-ice in the debris disk would have eroded away by now. This replenishment likely comes from collisions between dwarf planets, cometary nuclei, micrometeoroids and other flotsam and jetsam lurking in the dark of the debris disk. Each impact sputters more dust and ice grains into space, and each large impact sends a shower of fragments spinning away. If there's enough dust present, it could also shield water-ice from the star's ultraviolet light. Dust that has been detected already includes grains of olivine and iron sulfide. Related Stories: — 2nd Kuiper Belt? Our solar system may be much larger than thought — Hubble Telescope discovers a new '3-body problem' puzzle among Kuiper Belt asteroids (video) — New JWST observations of 'trans-Neptunian objects' could help reveal our solar system's past Meanwhile, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), which is a radio telescope in Chile, has detected carbon monoxide in the debris disk, which could also have been released into space by collisions between icy bodies. In addition, the JWST's NIRSpec found tentative evidence for the presence of carbon dioxide in the region of the disk between 105 and 120 astronomical units from the star, although this still needs to be confirmed. A second spectral line for water-ice, at 4.5 microns, was also detected by the JWST in the 105 to 120 astronomical-unit region, indicating this outer part of the debris disk might be the most rich in volatiles: gases with low evaporation points. Now that the JWST has demonstrated that it can detect water-ice in exoplanetary systems, we can expect more widespread discoveries in the future. Indeed, Xie and his team are already working on it. "Besides HD 181327, we have also observed other systems with the JWST and NIRSPec," he said. "We're currently working on publishing those data, so stay tuned!" The discovery of water-ice around HD 181327 was published on May 14 in the journal Nature.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA's James Webb Telescope discovers frozen water around a star, offering insights into planet formation
Source: NASA In a historic finding, scientists employing NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have made the first definitive detection of crystalline ice water in a distant young star system. While ice water is widespread in our solar system, this is the first time that frozen water has been detected outside of it. The discovery gives important clues about the makeup of far-off planetary systems and the possibility of water, one of the main ingredients of life, being present elsewhere in the universe. This discovery may have great significance for our understanding of planet formation and what is required for life beyond our planet. James Webb Space Telescope finds frozen water around a distant star The find, documented in the journal Nature, explains how there is ice in a ring of dust that is a circle around a star called HD 181327, which is located about 155 light-years from our Sun. HD 181327 itself is just 23 million years old and thus much younger on a cosmic scale. It is identical in every way to the Sun but is infinitesimally hotter and heavier. What's most remarkable about this find is the resemblance of its debris disk to our own Kuiper Belt, that frozen halo of worlds beyond Neptune. Webb's keen infrared eyes detected a gap in disk and star, something that reflects the makeup of our solar system and implies planet building is in progress. JWST did not directly observe any water ice, but it made a detection of crystalline water ice, the same kind of ice that exists in Saturn's ring system and Kuiper Belt objects. This kind of ice suggests a very well-organized internal structure, usually formed with specific temperatures and pressures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Things Just Aren't The Same Between William And Kate And Now We Know Why Daily Sport X Undo "HD 181327 is a highly active system," Xie explained. "It has intense, periodic collisions within its debris disk. When the icy objects in it collide with one another, they break apart into extremely fine particles of dusty water ice that are the perfect size for Webb to detect." Those ongoing collisions resupply the ice particles so that they can be detected even at very far distances. James Webb's discovery of water ice in HD 181327 sparks new insights The find has wider implications for our knowledge of how planetary systems are formed and evolve. The uneven distribution of the ice—most of which is found in the colder outer areas—also lends support to current models of planetary formation. In the disk's middle areas, scientists discovered that water ice accounted for approximately 8% of the material, indicating a balance between ice formation and destruction. This may suggest a cosmic pattern in the formation of planetary systems, reflecting the structure and dynamics of our own solar system. Previously, no telescope was able to spot such faint features directly in distant debris disks. The discovery opens new windows to studying the role of water in the formation of planets throughout the galaxy. Heartened by the find in HD 181327, scientists plan to look even farther afield for water ice in the next star systems. The results not only will greatly increase our understanding of where the universe's life-supporting ingredients are located, but also how common they are in newly forming planetary systems. Also Read | What makes NASA's spacesuit crucial for surviving in space and how it protects astronauts
NDTV
17-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
NASA's James Webb Telescope Spots Frozen Water In Distant Star System For The First Time
Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a team of astronomers has confirmed the presence of frozen water in a distant but young star system. While scientists have found plenty of water ice in our solar system, it is the first time that they have definitive proof of frozen water in other star systems. The details, published in the journal Nature, state that crystalline water ice has been found in a dusty debris disk that orbits a Sun-like star, only 23 million years old, 155 light-years away. The star is slightly more massive and hotter than the Sun, which led to the formation of a slightly larger system around it. Webb's findings showed there is a significant gap between the star, named HD 181327, and its debris disk, which is similar to our solar system's Kuiper Belt. "Webb unambiguously detected not just water ice, but crystalline water ice, which is also found in locations like Saturn's rings and icy bodies in our solar system's Kuiper Belt," said Chen Xie, the lead author of the new paper. "HD 181327 is a very active system. There are regular, ongoing collisions in its debris disk. When those icy bodies collide, they release tiny particles of dusty water ice that are perfectly sized for Webb to detect." Implication The presence of water ice in a similar region could point towards a pattern about how planetary systems evolve across the universe. It may be more than a coincidence that the first confirmed water ice we're seeing around another star mirrors the distribution of our solar system. Additionally, the water ice is not spread evenly throughout this system, with the majority of it found where it's coldest and farthest from the star. "Toward the middle of the debris disk, Webb detected about eight per cent water ice. Here, it's likely that frozen water particles are produced slightly faster than they are destroyed." Scientists have long posited that ice could be present in debris disks, but prior to Webb, they did not have the instruments sensitive enough to make such observations. After the success with HD 181327, the researchers are expected to increase their efforts to search for and study water ice in debris disks in actively forming planetary systems throughout the Milky Way galaxy.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
NASA's Webb confirms 1st discovery of frozen water around young star just like Solar system
In a historic finding, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has confirmed that crystalline water ice exists in the debris disk surrounding HD 181327, a young star that resembles the sun. The study, published in Nature, is the first clear-cut evidence of frozen water in an atmosphere outside of the solar system. The water ice, which is present with small dust particles, aids in the understanding of the early phases of the evolution of planetary systems. Webb's delicate instruments opened a fresh chapter in the study of planet formation by observing the detailed spectra that revealed the structure and arrangement of ice particles across the disk. The ice that Webb discovered has a crystalline structure, which is also present in other well-researched regions of the solar system, like the Kuiper Belt and Saturn's rings. 'Webb unambiguously detected not just water ice, but crystalline water ice, which is also found in locations like Saturn's rings and icy bodies in our solar system's Kuiper Belt,' said Chen Xie, the study's principal author and assistant research scientist at Johns Hopkins University. The small, dusty water ice particles that Webb's instruments picked up were the result of collisions inside the debris disk. These frozen granules support the theory that planet formation processes may be common throughout the galaxy by directly connecting to circumstances that may have prevailed in the early solar system. Also Read: Indian astronaut to travel soon to ISS as part of ISRO-NASA Mission Water ice is not evenly distributed across the debris disk of HD 181327. According to Webb's observations, the outer portions, where the temperature is low enough to maintain frozen water, have a high concentration of ice. 'The outer area of the debris disk consists of over 20% water ice,' Chen Xie stated. As one moves inward, the amount of ice drops decreases significantly. The areas nearest to the star have almost no water ice, whereas the center of the disk has about 8%. This gradient is probably caused by the UV rays from the star vaporizing the water ice in the warmer, inner regions. Furthermore, some water might be trapped inside planetesimals, which are expansive bodies that are challenging for Webb to detect. The physical and chemical conditions of newborn planetary systems can be inferred from this unequal distribution.
