Carina Cliffs from the Webb Space Telescope
Explanation:
Stars created these cliffs.
Specifically, the
destructive winds and
energetic light
from the stars in the open cluster
NGC 3324
eroded away part of a mountain of
dark interstellar dust in the
northern part of the
Carina Nebula.
Several of these stars are visible toward the top of
this
highly detailed image taken recently by the
James Webb Space Telescope,
the
largest astronomical telescope ever
launched.
Webb's large mirror and ability to see dust-piercing
infrared light
has enabled it to capture fascinating details in the dust,
hundreds of previously hidden stars, and even some
galaxies far in the distance.
The featured jagged cliffs occur in
part of Carina
known as the
Gabriela Mistral Nebula -- because when
viewed in another orientation,
they appear similar to the facial profile of the
famous Chilean poet.
These nebular cliffs occur about 7,600
light years
away toward the southern
constellation of Carina.
Astrophysicists:
Browse 2,800+ codes in the Astrophysics Source Code Library
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
