Massive Star G79.29+0.46 & Stellar Companions in Gas & Dust | Hubble

Massive Star G79.29+0.46 & Stellar Companions in Gas & Dust | Hubble

Close-up of the luminous blue variable candidate star G79.29+0.46 (near top, right of center) and its associated dusty, red ejecta shells. Also visible is a bright pillar of gas and a dark tendril of thick dust containing numerous young stellar objects.

Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) candidates are rare, massive stars that exhibit unpredictable and dramatic variations in their spectra and brightness. They are known for their complex circumstellar environments and are significant in the evolution of massive stars. Recent studies have identified numerous LBV candidates in the Milky Way and other galaxies with characteristics, such as broad hydrogen lines and strong polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon features in their spectra. These candidates play a crucial role in understanding the evolution of massive stars and their eventual fates, such as becoming neutron stars or black holes. 

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
Image Processing: Judy Schmidt
Text Credits: Judy Schmidt/Wikipedia
Release Date: Aug. 13, 2016

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