James Webb Space Telescope Feed Post

The Sunburst Arc with JWST: II. Observations of an Eta Carinae Analog at z=2.37

The composite of NIRCam F115W, F200W and F444W images of the northwest arc of the Sunburst Arc. Images 7 - 10 of clump 4 are marked with purple circles, while images 7 - 10 of the LyC leaking clump (clump 1) are marked with red squares. In image 8 of clump 4 (4.8), we observe Godzilla and the P knots (the two small clumps). Note the similarity in color between the P knots and the less magnified images of clump 4, and the difference from Godzilla. Abstract: "Godzilla" is a peculiar object within the gravitationally lensed Sunburst Arc at z=2.37. Despite being very bright, it appears in only one of the twelve lensed images of the source galaxy, and shows exotic spectroscopic properties not found elsewhere in the galaxy. We use JWST's unique combination of spatial resolution and spectroscopic sensitivity to provide a unified, coherent explanation of the physical nature of Godzilla. We measure fluxes and kinematic properties of rest-optical emission lines in Godzilla and surrounding regions. Using standard line ratio-based diagnostic methods in combination with NIRCam imaging and ground based rest-UV spectra, we characterize Godzilla and its surroundings. We find that Godzilla is most likely an extremely magnified, non-erupting LBV star with dense gas condensations in close proximity. Among around 60 detected lines, we find a cascade of strong O I lines pumped by intense Lyß emission, as well as Lya-pumped rest-optical Fe II lines, reminiscent of the Weigelt blobs in the local LBV star Eta Carinae. Godzilla is surrounded by dusty, inhomogeneous gas common to massive, evolved stars. Spectra and images of Godzilla and adjacent objects and the detection of a low-surface brightness foreground galaxy in the NIRCam data support the interpretation that Godzilla is a stellar-scale object extremely magnified by alignment with lensing caustics. To explain the dusty surroundings, strong [Ne III] and line kinematics simultaneously, we argue that Godzilla is a post-eruption LBV accompanied by a hotter companion and/or gas condensations exposed to more intense radiation compared to the Weigelt blobs. We expect periodic spectroscopic variations if Godzilla is a binary system. If Godzilla is confirmed to be an LBV star, it expands the distance to the furthest known LBV from a dozen Mpc to several Gpc.