Young Star Cluster NGC 1333
Credit & Copyright: ESA/Webb,
NASA,
CSA,
A. Scholz, K. Muzic, A. Langeveld, R. Jayawardhana
Explanation:
This spectacular mosaic
of images from the James Webb Space Telescope peers into
the heart of young star cluster NGC 1333.
A mere 1,000 light-years distant toward the heroic constellation
Perseus,
the nearby star cluster lies
at the edge of the large Perseus molecular cloud.
Part of Webb's deep
exploration
of the region to identify
low mass brown dwarf stars and free floating planets,
the space telescope's combined field of view spans nearly 2 light-years
across the dusty cluster's
turbulent stellar nursery.
In fact, NGC 1333 is known to harbor stars less than
a million years old, though most are
hidden
from optical telescopes
by the
pervasive stardust.
The chaotic environment may be similar to one in which our own Sun
formed over 4.5 billion years ago.
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.
