First Detailed Image of a Star Outside the Milky Way Unveiled

Astronomers have captured an unprecedented close-up of WOH G64, a dying red supergiant located 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring dwarf galaxy. Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), scientists observed the star shedding vast amounts of gas and dust as it nears the end of its life, forming a cocoon-like structure around it.

A Closer Look at WOH G64

The red supergiant, which is 2,000 times the mass of our Sun, is ejecting material at a rate that hints at its impending transition into a supernova. This process is crucial for understanding the final stages of massive stars and their contributions to the universe’s chemical enrichment.

The observations revealed a thin, elliptical ring of dust surrounding the star, created by its offloaded material. This torus-like feature helps scientists study how such stars evolve and prepare for their explosive deaths.

Why WOH G64 Matters

WOH G64 is unique due to its precise distance and extreme characteristics, making it an ideal subject for studying the dynamics of dying stars. Its immense size, coupled with its ability to eject material at such a rapid rate, provides valuable data on supernova precursors.

This star’s behavior is also significant for modeling similar stars in the universe, like Betelgeuse, which has shown dimming patterns linked to expelled material and possible orbiting companions.

Advancing Astronomical Techniques

This is the first time astronomers have managed to directly image the material surrounding a star of this kind beyond the Milky Way. The findings allow researchers to model the structure and dynamics of the dust cocoon, deepening our understanding of stellar evolution.

Future observations at longer wavelengths are planned to analyze further the material surrounding WOH G64. These could provide even more detailed insights into the star’s mass, energy output, and eventual supernova.

A Glimpse Into the Cosmos

The blurry but extraordinary image of WOH G64, described as “Eye-of-Sauron-esque,” demonstrates the capabilities of modern telescopes in exploring distant galaxies. As astronomers continue to refine their techniques, the study of WOH G64 offers a rare look into the life cycles of the universe’s most massive stars.