APOD: 2026 August 26 – JWST Images The Lion’s Head Nebula
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 26 – JWST… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. JWST Images […]
On August 26, 2026, the James Webb Space Telescope captured a composite image of the Lion's Head Nebula (NGC 2392) using its NIRCam and MIRI instruments. This remnant of a Sun-like star had ceased nuclear fusion in its core, leading to the ejection of gas and dust from the star and forming the planetary nebula. A white dwarf, a hot stellar core, remains within the nebula's "nose."
The intense radiation emitted by the white dwarf ionizes the gas as it expands, shaping the nebula's irregular bubble-like face. Surviving dust clumps and a cloud of ionized gas compose the nebula's mane. This detailed observation aids our understanding of the complex interactions between gas, dust, and the white dwarf's radiation.
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- APOD: 2026 August 26 – JWST Images The Lion’s Head Nebula science.nasa.gov
