In this beautiful image, featured in the “Astronomy Picture of the Day” this Thursday (4) by NASA, we are transported to a breathtaking cosmic scenario: the runaway star Zeta Ophiuchi.
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In this photo, with the infrared view, it is possible to observe the bluish star Zeta Ophiuchi, which is about 20 times more massive than the Sun, standing out in the center of the image. A powerful stellar wind precedes it, creating a curved interstellar shockwave that compresses and heats the dusty interstellar material around it, forming a curved boundary.
According to NASA, Zeta Ophiuchi likely was part of a binary system, being the more massive stellar companion, which had a shorter life, exploding as a supernova. This catastrophic event catapulted the star out of the system, and now, about 460 light-years away, it shines brightly, being 65,000 times more luminous than the Sun. Zeta Ophiuchi would be one of the brightest stars in the sky if it weren’t for the presence of the surrounding dust.
This image was captured by the Spitzer Space Telescope, which, in January 2020, concluded its successful 16 years of cosmic exploration when it was placed in a safe mode by NASA.
