The James Webb Space Telescope has made one of its first images of WR 124, a Wolf-Rayet star 15,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. The star is one of the brightest, most massive, and briefly observable stars known.

Now come to the point that,

Webb’s instruments reveal the detailed structure of WR 124’s nebula!

The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on Webb reveals that Wolf-Rayet stars are effective dust emitters. In longer mid-infrared wavelengths, cooler cosmic dust illuminates, revealing the structure of WR 124’s nebula. Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) balances the brightness of the star core of WR 124 with the intricate details in the fainter gas surrounding it.

Here is a term to know,

What is WR 124?

The material-ejected ring nebula M1-67  surrounds WR 124 a Wolf–Rayet star in the constellation Sagitta. At a radial velocity of around 200 kilometers per second, it is one of the fastest runaway stars in the Milky Way. Paul W discovered it in 1938. Merrill and classified as a Wolf–Rayet star with a high velocity. WR 124 is 30 times the Sun’s mass and has already shed 10 Suns’ worth of material. As the blasted gas recedes from the star and cools, cosmic dust develops and emits infrared light that Webb can detect.

So, here arises the question,

What is the importance of observing the rare Wolf-Rayet phase?

Before going supernova, massive stars go through a short Wolf-Rayet phase. Webb’s detailed observations of this rare phase are helpful to astronomers because they show how this phase works. Wolf-Rayet stars are now shedding their outer layers, resulting in their characteristic gas and dust halos.

But,

How does WR 124 help in understanding the early history of the universe?

Astronomers use stars like WR 124 as analogs to comprehend better a crucial period in the universe’s early history. These dying stars initially seeded the newborn cosmos with heavy elements formed in their cores, elements that are now widespread across the universe, including on Earth.

Furthermore,

Contribution to the universe’s “dust budget”!

Astronomers are interested in the genesis of cosmic dust that can survive a supernova explosion and contribute to the universe’s overall “dust budget” for a variety of reasons. Dust plays an essential function in the universe as it provides shelter for budding stars, aids in the formation of planets, and provides a platform for molecules, including the building blocks of life on Earth, to form and clump together. Despite dust’s crucial roles, there is more dust in the universe than can be explained by astronomers’ existing dust-formation hypotheses. The universe has an excess of dust in its budget.

We will be looking forward for,

Future possibilities for studying cosmic dust!

Before Webb, dust-loving astronomers required more specific data to investigate concerns of dust creation in environments such as WR 124 and whether the dust grains were large enough to survive the supernova and become a significant contributor to the total dust budget. Webb offers new opportunities for researching cosmic dust. It is best viewed at infrared light wavelengths.

Revealed Wolf Rayet star nebula
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team

Lastly,

Summary:

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has looked at WR 124, a Wolf-Rayet star that is 15,000 light-years away and is in the constellation Sagittarius. Webb’s instruments have given us a clear picture of how the star’s nebula is put together. This shows that Wolf-Rayet stars are good at making dust. Before going supernova, WR 124 goes through a short phase called Wolf-Rayet, which is interesting for astronomers to study. Astronomers can also use stars like WR 124 to learn about a critical time in the universe’s early history. Cosmic dust is essential to the universe, and Webb gives us new ways to study it. Infrared wavelengths of light show the best cosmic dust, which Webb can also see.

 

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The great James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured the imagination of the scientific community and space enthusiasts alike. As the largest and most powerful space telescope ever built, It will change our understanding of the universe. Here are some amazing James Webb Telescope Facts that you need to know:

Fact 1: The JWST is the largest space telescope ever built

The JWST is massive, weighing in at 6.5 tons, and is about the size of a tennis court when fully deployed. The size of this great telescope is about 22 meters by 12 meters. According to NASA, Its primary mirror has a diameter of 6.5 meters (21 feet 4 inches) across, which is more than twice the size of the Hubble Space Telescope’s primary mirror.

Fact 2: It is an infrared telescope

Unlike Hubble, which primarily observes visible and ultraviolet light, the JWST is an infrared telescope. This means it can see through dust and gas clouds to reveal objects. The objects that are hidden from view at visible wavelengths. For example the earliest galaxies in the universe and the formation of stars and planets.

Fact 3: The JWST has a unique orbit

The JWST orbits around the L2 point, which is a gravitationally stable location in space located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. This orbit allows the telescope to remain in a fixed position relative to Earth as it observes the universe, and provides a stable environment for its sensitive instruments.

Fact 4: It took over 20 years to develop and launch

The idea for the JWST was first proposed in the mid-1990s. Around 30 years ago, STScI Director Riccardo Giacconi urged the team to “think about the next major mission beyond Hubble.” Before the launch of Hubble, an STScI workshop developed a mission design in September 1989. The project has gone through numerous design iterations and funding challenges since then. The telescope finally launches on December 25, 2021, from ESA’s launch site at Kourou in French Guiana.

Fact 5: The goal of JSWT – Study the earliest galaxies and stars

One of the major James Webb Telescope facts is that it is the leading scientific goal of the JWST is to study the earliest galaxies that formed in the universe, shortly after the Big Bang. By observing these galaxies, scientists hope to gain insights into how the universe evolved over time. The telescope studies star and planet formation and searches for life on other worlds.

Fact 6: The lifespan of JSWT is at least 10 years

The JWST is designed to operate for at least 10 years, but it is expected to continue operating for much longer. Its instruments and systems have been designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space, and its unique orbit will help to ensure its longevity.

Fact 7: The JWST is a collaborative effort

The JWST is a collaborative effort between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The project has involved over 300 universities, organizations, and companies across 29 U.S. states and 14 countries.

Fact 8: The JWST will work with the Hubble Space Telescope

Although the JWST is much more powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope, the two telescopes will collaborate to explore the universe. The Hubble will continue to observe visible and ultraviolet light, while the JWST will focus on infrared light.

Fact 9: The JWST has already produced stunning images

Within a few months, the JWST started producing some stunning images of the universe. These images include a detailed look at the “Pillars of Creation” in the Eagle Nebula, and a spectacular view of the galaxy cluster Abell 2744.

JWST discovered the most distant galaxies in mid-December. The telescope proved its ability to observe the early universe with this milestone. The telescope discovered four 13.4 billion-year-old galaxies, which existed when the universe was 350 million years old. JWST’s Near Infrared Spectrograph found these galaxies (JADES).

Final Words!

The James Webb Space Telescope is a remarkable achievement of human invention and technological prowess. With its advanced capabilities, it promises to transform our understanding of the universe and help us answer some of the most fundamental questions about our place in the cosmos. The JWST continues to gather data and produce stunning images. As a result, it is sure to capture the imagination of people around the world.

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At infrared wavelengths, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is revealing star formation, and networks of gas and dust in nearby galaxies. An initial collection of 21 research publications has shed light on how the universe’s simplest processes, such as star formation, affect the history of its largest objects, galaxies.

PHANGS collaboration:

In Webb’s first year of science operations, the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby Galaxies (PHANGS) collaboration is conducting the largest nearby galaxy survey. Janice Lee, Gemini Observatory chief scientist at the National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab and affiliate astronomer at the University of Arizona in Tucson, leads Webb observations.

Five of the team’s 19 spiral galaxies—M74, NGC 7496, IC 5332, NGC 1365, and NGC 1433—have been observed in Webb’s first few months of science operations. The results amaze astronomers.

David Thilker is a Professor at Maryland’s Johns Hopkins University. He says: “The clarity with which we are seeing the fine structure certainly caught us by surprise,”

Erik Rosolowsky is a Canadian student at the University of Alberta. He says that he was part of the team. Moreover, he explains: “We are directly seeing how the energy from the formation of young stars affects the gas around them, and it’s just remarkable,”

Webb reveals intricate networks of gas and dust in galaxies
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and J. Lee (NOIRLab). Image processing: A. Pagan (STScI)

Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) photos show brilliant cavities of dust and large gas bubbles that line the spiral arms. However, This web of characteristics appears to be discrete and overlapping shells and bubbles where young stars release energy in some nearby galaxies.

Karin Sandstrom is also a squad member at Columbia university San Diego. She says: “Areas which are completely dark in Hubble imaging light up in exquisite detail in these new infrared images, allowing us to study how the dust in the interstellar medium has absorbed the light from forming stars and emitted it back out in the infrared, illuminating intricate networks of gas and dust,”

The Evolution:

For a long time, astronomers lacked the high-resolution images necessary to examine these formations, but Webb has changed all that.

Adam Leroy is a member of the PHANGS team. He explained that the team has conducted years of observations of galaxies at optical, radio, and ultraviolet wavelengths. The observation is get using various telescopes. This telescope includes NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array. Moreover, the Very Large Telescope’s Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer is also very significant in the observation.

Despite these extensive observations, the earliest stages of a star’s lifecycle have remained out of view, as they occur within dense clouds of gas and dust that shroud the process from view. These networks of gas and dust are also known as molecular clouds. They are clouds where stars are born. Moreover, the complex processes that lead to the formation of new stars take place in this region. Studying these molecular clouds in more detail is very significant for the PHANGS team. As they hope to shed light on the earliest stages of star formation. This will help them gain a better understanding of how stars are born and evolve.

With its tremendous infrared capabilities, Webb can see past the obscuring dust and piece it together.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons play also an essential role in star and planet formation. Besides, Their emission can be detected at specific wavelengths. These emissions can be observed by MIRI (7.7 and 11.3 microns) and Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (3.3 microns). With the initial PHANGS observations, Webb was able to spot these compounds.

Understanding the bigger picture of galaxy evolution through the study of these interactions at the smallest scale is possible.

 

Webb reveals intricate networks of gas and dust in galaxies
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and J. Lee (NOIRLab). Image processing: A. Pagan (STScI)

Leader of the PHANGS team:

Eva Schinnerer is a leader of the PHANGS team. Moreover, he is an astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany. He explained about the networks of gas and dust: “Because these observations are taken as part of what’s called a treasury program, they are available to the public as they are observed and received on Earth,”

In order to assist in the process of discovery, the PHANGS team will work to compile and share data sets that align Webb’s data to each of the complementary data sets gathered previously from the other observatories.

In a statement, Lee expressed his gratitude for the high resolution of the telescope. The telescope allows conducting of a comprehensive census of star formation in nearby galaxies beyond the Local Group. Moreover, Lee suggests that this census will provide insight into how star formation and its feedback impact the interstellar medium. This could either lead to the formation of the next generation of stars or impede their formation. Furthermore, The inventories of interstellar medium bubble structures will help in understanding the complex interplay between star formation and the surrounding environment. This will provide important insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies.

PHANGS study is part of the General Observer program 2107. The Astrophysical Journal Letters released the team’s early findings from 21 research in a special emphasis issue.

 

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NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has released its latest deep field image, which shows previously unseen details in a region of space known as Pandora’s Cluster (Abell 2744). Three huge galaxies join to form a giant cluster, according to Webb. Due to the cluster’s gravitational lens, scientists can identify even more distant galaxies from the early universe by using it as a magnifying glass.

Previous NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope research only focused on Pandora’s center core. With the powerful infrared instruments aboard Webb and a wide mosaic view of the region’s many sites of lensing, astronomers hoped to strike a balance between breadth and depth that would lead to new insights into the nature of the universe and the development of galaxies.

Rachel Bezanson is an astronomer at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. Moreover, he is the co-principal investigator on the “UNCOVER” (Ultradeep NIRSpec and NIRCam ObserVations before the Epoch of Reionization) program to study the region. “The ancient myth of Pandora is about human curiosity and discoveries that delineate the past from the future, which I think is a fitting connection to the new realms of the universe Webb is opening up, including this deep-field image of Pandora’s Cluster,”

Combining JSWT images!

The recently discovered view of Pandora’s Cluster is a panorama of four Webb photographs, displaying over 50,000 sources of near-infrared light. “When the images of Pandora’s Cluster first came in from Webb, we were honestly a little star-struck,”. Bezanson says. “There was so much detail in the foreground cluster and so many distant lensed galaxies, I found myself getting lost in the image. Webb exceeded our expectations.”

In addition to magnification, gravitational lensing distorts distant galaxies, making them look significantly different from those in the foreground. The galaxy cluster “lens” is so large that it warps space, causing light from distant galaxies to look twisted.

Explanation – Ivo Labbe!

Astronomer Ivo Labbe of the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, co-principal investigator on the UNCOVER program. He says that in the lensing core to the lower right in the Webb image, Hubble has never imaged. Webb revealed hundreds of distant lensed galaxies that appear as faint arced lines. As you zoom in, more appear.

In another statement, Labbe expresses excitement about the new image of Pandora’s Cluster captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, a new and powerful tool for studying the universe. The image is better than ever, according to Labbe.

Labbe also emphasizes the beauty of the image, stating that it looks like a simulation of galaxy formation. However, Labbe reminds us that this is not a simulation but real data and that the image represents a new era of astronomy where we can observe and study the universe in unprecedented detail.

Webb’s Imaging!

The UNCOVER team observed Pandora’s cluster for around 30 hours, using exposures of 4-6 hours with Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). The next step is to carefully examine the imaging data. And to choose galaxies for further observation with the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec). This will yield accurate distance measurements and additional information about the lensed galaxies’ compositions. Thus shedding light on the formative stages of galaxy formation and evolution. According to the UNCOVER group, these NIRSpec observations will take place in the summer of 2023.

NIRCam photometric data of Pandora’s Cluster is also available. This helps other astronomers can become familiar with it and plan their scientific studies with Webb’s rich datasets. “We are committed to helping the astronomy community make the best use of the fantastic resource we have in Webb,” said UNCOVER co-investigator Gabriel Brammer of the Niels Bohr Institute’s Cosmic Dawn Center at the University of Copenhagen. “This is just the beginning of all the amazing Webb science to come.”

Webb has enormous datasets and NIRCam photometric data. This can be very helpful for astronomers to create research programs. Gabriel Brammer is the co-investigator of the UNCOVER and the Cosmic Dawn Center at the University of Copenhagen. He said remarked: “We are committed to assisting the astronomy community in making the best use of the amazing resource we have in Webb.” The incredible Webb science to come will only begin with this, so to speak.

Webb data from three early observation programs. Named JWST-GO-2561, JWST-DD-ERS-1324, and JWST-DD-2756. This was used to create the UNCOVER team’s photo mosaics and source library for Pandora’s Cluster (Abell 2744).

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The massive asteroid is the size of the Washington Monument. This demonstrates the power of the powerful telescope in discovering celestial objects even in our own backyard. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) discovered the smallest asteroid estimated to be the size of Rome’s Colosseum. The JWST is have caught various small objects since its launch at the end of 2021.

The James Webb Space Telescope has gained recognition for detecting far and massive astronomical objects.
Its latest discovery, however, showcases its unexpected usefulness closer to Earth. The new discovery demonstrates the instrument’s potent capabilities even in our own backyard.

What makes this news that big?

The discovery of the 330- to 660-foot (100- to 200-meter) asteroid is all the more remarkable because it was discovered using data that was originally collected to calibrate the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), not to find new asteroids. This demonstrates the JWST’s unexpected and powerful capabilities.

The asteroid belt:

The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter. It is home to millions of space rocks. Moreover, it remained of the solar system formed over 4.5 billion years ago. The objects in the belt range in size from Ceres, a dwarf planet with a diameter of around 620 miles (1000 kilometers), to small fragments less than 33 feet (10 meters).

As “fossilized remains” of the early solar system, asteroids hold valuable information about the formation of planets, including Earth. The study of these celestial objects can shed light on the early stages of planetary development.

Discovery and analysis of the smallest asteroid:

Smaller asteroids have been less extensively studied due to their difficulty in observation. However, it offers valuable insights into the early solar system.

The discovery of the smallest asteroid by the JWST is particularly exciting. Because it suggests that astronomers will have the capability to study even smaller asteroids in the future. Moreover, those asteroids are less than half a mile in diameter. And they will be studied using a powerful telescope.

The data from JSWT while observing the main-belt asteroid (10920) 1998 BC1. This was originally discovered in 1998. Despite the efforts of the team, the observation has been considered a failure due to the excessive brightness of asteroid 10920 1998 BC1 and an incorrect alignment of the JWST’s direction.

Future work:

Recognizing that the data is still very useful. The team decides to use it to establish and validate a new method for calculating an object’s orbit and size. Through their analysis, they discovered the “photo-bombing” asteroid, which had unexpectedly entered the frame.

 

By analyzing the data, the scientists estimated the size of the asteroid. They determined that it was located in the inner region of the main asteroid belt. Moreover, it had a low-inclination orbit. Going forward, astronomers will work to refine the orbit of the newly discovered object. And make additional observations against the backdrop of stars.

What are astronomers’ reviews on the smallest asteroid?

Bryan Holler:

Bryan Holler is a Webb support scientist in Baltimore at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STSI). He says: “This is a fantastic result which highlights the capabilities of MIRI to serendipitously detect a previously undetectable size of asteroid in the main belt,”. Moreover, he says: “Repeats of these observations are in the process of being scheduled, and we are fully expecting new asteroid interlopers in those images!”

Thomas Müller:

An astronomer at Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics astronomer Thomas Müller said in a statement: “We  —  completely unexpectedly  —  detected a small asteroid in publicly available MIRI calibration observations,” Moreover, he said: “The measurements are some of the first MIRI measurements targeting the ecliptic plane and our work suggests that many, new objects will be detected with this instrument.”

Müller says that findings demonstrate that even “failed” observations from the JSWT can still yield valuable scientific results, with the right approach and a bit of good fortune. He said: “Our results show that even ‘failed’ Webb observations can be scientifically useful if you have the right mindset and a little bit of luck,” Müller more said. “Our detection lies in the main asteroid belt, but the JWST’s incredible sensitivity made it possible to see this roughly 100-meter object at a distance of more than 100 million kilometers [over 62 million miles].”

 

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More than 33,000 newborn stars are hidden in the NGC 346 Nebula. Which is the brightest and greatest star-producing region in the galaxy, thanks to Webb’s high-resolution imagery. Astronomers have recently studied NGC 346 with telescope missions, but this is the first time they have observed the dust. The formation of the first stars during “cosmic noon” more than 10 billion years ago is seen in a new image from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

At “cosmic noon,” the James Webb Space Telescope discovers star birth clues for newborn stars. Astronomers have come closer to understanding how early stars evolved during “cosmic noon” than 10 billion years ago.

By combining Webb’s observational capabilities with the gravitational lensing effect, which occurs when extremely massive foreground objects bend light to magnify faint background objects, astronomers were able to make an additional discovery while studying this image. They discovered an unknown and extremely distant galaxy.

Cosmic Noon!

The Cosmic Noon of galaxy formation began roughly three billion years after the Big Bang when the Cosmic Dawn of galaxy formation came to an end and galaxies started to develop at ever-faster rates. A “typical” galaxy at that time was much bigger than it had been during the Cosmic Dawn. 

These galaxies also contained supermassive black holes, which, while consuming neighboring gas, evolved into remarkably bright celestial objects. The majority of the stars and black holes in the universe developed over a few billion years close to Cosmic Noon.

In the NGC 346 nebula, which is the galaxy’s brightest and greatest star-forming region. Scientists have now found more than 33,000 newborn stars all thanks to Webb’s high-resolution imaging. 

NGC 346 Nebula!

The recently released image shows NGC 346, an object that is a part of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a dwarf galaxy that is only 200,000 light years away from Earth. As is the case in many regions of the present universe, NGC 346 was already well-known as a nursery for young stars.

The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a dwarf galaxy near the Milky Way, is where NCG 346 is present. 

It is one of the most active star-forming zones in nearby galaxies, but NGC 346, and is shrouded in mystery. Compared to the Milky Way, the SMC has lower amounts of metals, which are substances heavier than hydrogen or helium. 

Scientists anticipated that there would be very little dust. Moreover, it would be difficult to detect because the majority of the dust grains in space are of metals. But brand-new Webb data shows the exact reverse.

In the upcoming months, scientists hope to discover more. If the Small Magellanic Cloud’s star formation process is comparable to or unlike our own. 

By sucking in surrounding dust these stars are expanding and increasing their size and composition, so it is still unknown how much Webb will hold itself during this star formation process. Ultimately, a rocky planet will be all alone.

What are astronomers’ thoughts on this discovery? 

Astronomers are now relying on JWST to search for the youngest stars and find stars that are not visible in the dust. Astronomers have found several stars that are invisible or misidentified in the optical range by looking for star-forming regions in the infrared.

One of the authors of the report and an astronomer with the Universities Space Research Association Margaret Meixner said; “We have just scratched the surface of this data,”. Moreover, she stated that; “We are going to go back and push it down to [almost] brown dwarf limits to see what we can find.”

 

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Galaxies have evolved significantly in every aspect from the time of early galaxy formation and the present. They have continuously increased their celestial populations while enlarging the cosmic medium with heavy elements, producing multiple generations of stars from molecular gas clouds. James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) discovers that galaxies in the early universe were surprisingly diverse.

According to NASA’s observational study of thousands of galaxies.  NASA found that the cosmos is significantly more diversified and developed than previously believed. The study was based on 850 galaxies that were approximately 11–13 billion years old and were spotted at redshifts of z 3–9.

Hubble Deep Field images VS JWST images!

JWST is valuable to Hubble at revealing structures in distant galaxies for two reasons: First, because of its bigger mirror, it has better light-gathering capabilities and can see farther and more clearly. Second, it can see through dust more clearly because it looks at longer infrared wavelengths than Hubble.

On December 28, 1995, 342 different types of images were merged to produce the Hubble Deep Field image. Astronomers claimed to measure the movement, age, and composition of the galaxies photographed by combining these photos.

They claimed that bluer objects may include young stars or be nearby. Older stars may be present in redder objects, or they may be further away. Even the biggest telescopes have never been able to observe most of the galaxies because they are four billion times fainter than the human eye can see.

But as for JWST discovery, Scientists and researchers are now saying that to determine a galaxy’s age and field more time is needed. As the galaxies even at the high redshifts were already quite developed.

When the images taken by James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) were compared to Hubble Space Telescope photos that depict the same dim, high redshift galaxies, JWST images are slightly clearer.

What do experts say?

A lead author of the new paper and one of the CEERS researchers Jeyhan Kartaltepe also made a statement. He says that even at high redshifts the galaxies were already quite developed. Moreover, she said that the galaxies at high redshifts also had a vast range of structures

Jeyhan Kartaltepe have said that:

“This suggests that we still don’t know when the earliest galactic structures formed,”

Moreover, Jeyhan Kartaltepe concluded:

“We have yet to see the very first galaxies with disks. We will have to study many more galaxies at even higher redshifts to quantify at what point features such as discs were able to form.”

Another researcher who was researching this problem Mr. Jordan Mirocha (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), said:

“There’s either an overabundance of galaxies, or they’re much brighter than our typical models predict,”

 

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