Astronomers Unravel Mystery of Dragon’s Egg Nebula
The Dragon’s Egg Nebula, officially known as NGC 6164/6165, has long been a source of fascination for astronomers. Surrounding a pair of stars called HD 148937, this nebula boasts spectacular clouds of gas and dust that have kept researchers intrigued.
Among the myriad mysteries within the Dragon’s Egg Nebula, two massive stars have recently caught the attention of scientists. One of these stars possesses a magnetic field similar to that of our Sun, while its companion star does not. This enigma has puzzled astronomers for quite some time.
However, recent research published in the journal Science has shed light on this celestial puzzle. Abigail Frost, an astronomer at the European Southern Observatory in Chile and the lead author of the study, revealed that the answer lies in stellar mergers. It appears that the more massive star in the binary system devoured its smaller sibling, leading to the creation of a magnetic field through the mixing of stellar material.
Computer simulations had previously suggested that mergers between stars could generate magnetic fields in their offspring, and this study provides observational evidence to support that hypothesis. Hugues Sana, an astronomer at the University of Leuven in Belgium and senior author of the study, remarked that this research confirms the validity of these simulations.
Using the Very Large Telescope in Chile, researchers observed the Dragon’s Egg Nebula for nine years to unravel the mystery of the stars within it. Situated in the constellation Norma in the Milky Way, approximately 3,700 light-years away from Earth, this nebula is named for its proximity to a larger nebula complex called the “Fighting Dragons of Ara.”
The stars in the Dragon’s Egg Nebula are estimated to have formed around 4 to 6 million years ago. Originally, the system consisted of three stars bound by gravity, with the two innermost stars undergoing the violent merger that resulted in the creation of the nebula approximately 7,500 years ago.
The second star in the binary system did not partake in the merger, remaining untouched as a witness to the cosmic event. This star, a magnetar with the mass of approximately 30 times that of the Sun, orbits its companion at varying distances.
The Dragon’s Egg Nebula continues to offer astronomers a wealth of insights into the intricate processes that shape our universe. As we peer into the depths of space, mysteries like those found in this nebula remind us of the vast complexity that lies beyond our own planet.