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Credit & Copyright: NASA,
ESA,
CSA,
STScI,
Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI),
Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
Explanation:
A mere
390 light-years away,
Sun-like stars and future planetary systems are forming in
the Rho Ophiuchi molecular cloud complex,
the closest star-forming region to our fair planet.
The James Webb Space Telescope's NIRCam peered
into the nearby natal chaos
to capture this infrared image at
an
inspiring scale.
The spectacular cosmic snapshot was released to celebrate the successful
first year of
Webb's exploration
of the Universe.
The
frame spans
less than a light-year across the Rho Ophiuchi region
and contains about 50 young stars.
Brighter stars clearly sport Webb's characteristic pattern of
diffraction spikes.
Huge jets of shocked molecular hydrogen
blasting
from
newborn stars are red in the image, with
the large, yellowish dusty cavity carved out by the energetic
young star near its center.
Near some stars in the stunning image are shadows cast by their
protoplanetary
disks.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Rho Ophiuchi
Publications with words: Rho Ophiuchi
See also: