description WR 140 Overview
WR 140 is a variable star system located in the constellation Cygnus, consisting of a massive Wolf-Rayet star and a hot O-type giant companion. These two stars follow a highly eccentric 7.9-year orbit, coming close enough together to generate colliding stellar winds that shock the surrounding gas. This interaction produces periodic shells of heated plasma and dust that expand outward into space. In 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope successfully imaged these concentric dust shells in high resolution, providing researchers with a valuable model for studying massive star evolution.
insights Ranking position
WR 140 ranks #75 of 212 in the Star ranking, behind Adhara, ahead of Izar.
help WR 140 FAQ
What type of stars make up the WR 140 system?
WR 140 is a binary star system consisting of a highly massive Wolf-Rayet star and a hot O-type companion star. Both stars are incredibly bright and emit intense stellar winds.
What happens when the two stars in WR 140 interact?
As these two massive stars orbit each other on their highly eccentric path, their powerful stellar winds collide at millions of miles per hour. This violent collision creates intense X-rays and compresses gas into periodic shells of dust.
How often do the stars in WR 140 orbit each other?
The two stars in the WR 140 system share a highly eccentric 7.9-year orbital period. They only come close enough for maximum wind collision and dust production once during each long orbit.
Did the James Webb Space Telescope photograph WR 140?
Yes, the James Webb Space Telescope famously captured direct mid-infrared images of WR 140. These stunning images clearly showed concentric rings of expanding dust shells that form each time the two stars closely pass each other.
explore Explore More
Similar to WR 140
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
