Witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of a newborn star, IRAS 18162-2048, unleashing a colossal jet of hot gas at an astonishing speed of 2.2 million miles per hour. This stellar phenomenon, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, showcases the star's immense power and the intricate dynamics of interstellar clouds. The jet, an extraordinary 32 light-years long, is the longest outflow ever observed from a forming star or protostar, surpassing the size of our entire solar system by a factor of 8 to 10. This stellar jet is a testament to the star's immense mass, as it accelerates and expels matter at breakneck speeds. The star's accretion disk, a swirling cloud of gas and dust, gradually feeds the protostar, mirroring the feeding process of human infants. However, the protostar's messy nature is revealed through powerful magnetic fields that channel plasma to the poles, resulting in the ejection of jets. These jets, known as HH objects, create shockwaves when they collide with previously ejected gas, causing the bright glows observed in the Hubble image of HH 80 and HH 81. This image, made possible by Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3, provides invaluable insights into the structure of these cosmic wonders. Despite its 36-year journey, Hubble remains an indispensable tool for astronomers, as evidenced by this groundbreaking discovery. The image highlights the ongoing importance of Hubble in advancing our understanding of the universe, even after three decades of service. RobertLeais a renowned science journalist whose articles have graced renowned publications, including Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek, and ZME Science. His expertise in science communication is further showcased through his contributions to Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. With a bachelor's degree in physics and astronomy from the UK's Open University, RobertLeais a trusted source for all things scientific.
