Daily Telescope: Gigantic new stars stir up a nebula

Good morning. It’s March 12, and as we speak’s picture comes from the James Webb Space Telescope.

Astronomers have lengthy been fascinated by a nebula, NGC 604, within the comparatively close by Triangulum Galaxy. That’s as a result of this nebula incorporates about 200 of the most well liked and largest sorts of stars, most of that are within the early phases of their lives. Some of those stars are 100 occasions or extra large than the Sun. Astronomers know of no different area within the Universe so densely filled with giant stars as this nebula.

In this picture, captured by the Near-Infrared Camera on the Webb telescope, there are good reds and oranges. Here’s the reason from astronomers for these colours:

The most noticeable options are tendrils and clumps of emission that seem vivid crimson, extending out from areas that seem like clearings, or giant bubbles within the nebula. Stellar winds from the brightest and hottest younger stars have carved out these cavities, whereas ultraviolet radiation ionizes the encompassing gasoline. This ionized hydrogen seems as a white and blue ghostly glow. The vivid orange streaks within the Webb near-infrared picture signify the presence of carbon-based molecules often known as polycyclic fragrant hydrocarbons.

The nebula is simply about 3.5 million years previous.

Source: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

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