Sparkling star birth captured by Webb, triple star system illuminates deep space in new image

Webb captured this dazzling image of star formation in Pismis 24, a young star cluster located around 5,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Scorpius. This area is ideal for studying the characteristics and development of hot, young stars. (Image: NASA)

A spectacular image shows the birth of stars in space. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured a cosmic dust cloud. It appears like a mountain with glowing peaks. Wisps of gas and dust swirl around it. But in fact, powerful infant stars are reshaping it.

Where is this star-forming region located?

This star cluster is named Pismis 24. It lies in the Lobster Nebula’s core. The nebula is about 5,500 light-years away from Earth. It sits within the constellation of Scorpius. Pismis 24 is a stellar nursery full of young stars. Its closeness offers a rare opportunity to study star birth.

At its heart is the bright Pismis 24-1 star. Once thought to be a single massive star. Scientists later found it consists of two stars. These stars weigh 74 and 66 times our Sun’s mass. Both remain among the universe’s largest and brightest stars. Webb’s infrared camera reveals thousands of stars.

How does the image show different stars and gas?

Brilliant stars appear with six-point diffraction spikes. They are the cluster’s most massive stars. Smaller stars show in white, yellow, and red. The colours depend on dust and star type. Cyan marks hot hydrogen gas heated by young stars. Orange represents dust molecules like Earth’s smoke. Red shows cooler molecular hydrogen gas. The densest gas appears black and emits no light. Wispy white features scatter starlight around the peaks.

Some stars reach temperatures eight times hotter than the Sun. They blast radiation and strong stellar winds. These forces excavate holes in the wall of the nebula. Streams of ionized gas flow from the ridges of the nebula. Gas and dust veils drift through the air. Gas spires resist harsh radiation unyieldingly. They point toward the young, powerful stars. These spires form new stars as they compress. The tallest spire measures about 5.4 light-years long. Its tip spans 0.14 light-years, or 200 solar systems.

What is the purpose of Webb’s mission?

James Webb Space Telescope is the leading space observatory. It solves mysteries of the solar system. Webb explores distant planets and stars beyond Earth. It studies the universe’s structure and origins. NASA leads the mission with ESA and CSA. The telescope is helping us understand our universe.