A Nebulosa do Leão Rugindo nas Lentes do Webb

JWST’s Near Infrared Camera and Mid Infrared Instrument combined image of planetary nebula NGC 2392, the Lion Nebula, against the black background of space. The nebula is at center, circular in shape, and looks like a male lion’s head. In the center is a small, pinkish-white circle with eight-point diffraction spikes, a white dwarf star. Surrounding the star are purple-pink cavernous bubbles and shell-like rings. The bubbles and shells collectively form an oval with two small, wide arcs near the top, reminiscent of a lion’s face and its ears. What appears to be extended outward from the lion’s face is a thick ring of purple-blue material. The width of the ring is consistent throughout and resembles a mane. The area closest to the lion’s face looks cloudy, while the edges of the mane look like there are clumps of dust with comet-like tails. In the background are distant galaxies and stars. Some galaxies are yellow and orange points of light and others have spiral structures. Some stars have diffraction spikes. — O Telescópio Espacial James Webb da NASA imageou a nebulosa planetária NGC 2392, a Lion Nebula, usando os instrumentos NIRCam e MIRI do observatório. Os restos da estrela central são responsáveis pela estrutura da nebulosa, incluindo uma bolha de gás ionizado e poeira em formato de rosto de leão, com “crina”. Imagem: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Processamento de imagem: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

Observando pelas “planícies” estreladas do espaço, o Telescópio Espacial James Webb da NASA registrou novas imagens de NGC 2392, apelidada de Lion Nebula. A “crina” da nebulosa aparece nítida e detalhada nesta imagem divulgada em 10 de agosto de 2026, graças ao imageamento de alta resolução do Webb.

Veja mais imagens da Lion Nebula feitas pelo Webb.

Imagem: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Processamento de imagem: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)