Topline
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope celebrates its one-year anniversary by unveiling a captivating image that captures the formation of 50 young stars in exquisite detail. This includes stars that hint at the future development of planetary systems.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope showcases the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, which is the closest star-forming region to Earth.… [+]
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pon via AP
Key Facts
The new Webb image features the closest star-forming region to us, located approximately 390 light-years from Earth.
The image portrays 50 stars, all of which are similar in size to the Sun or smaller. It also highlights dark and dense areas where protostars are currently forming.
NASA states that the red areas in the image demonstrate bipolar jets of molecular hydrogen, emitted when a star emerges from its cosmic dust covering. This occurrence is likened to a newborn stretching her arms out into the world.
Among the featured stars, the S1 star, depicted as a dust cloud in the lower half of the image, is noticeably larger than the Sun.
Some stars in the image reveal shadowy outlines of protoplanetary disks, an indication of potential planetary systems in the making, according to the space agency.
Key Background
The James Webb Space Telescope, launched by NASA in 2021, has been delivering images for the past year. It is the first-ever space telescope capable of capturing far-infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye. Equipped with NIRCAM (Near-Infrared Camera), the telescope detects infrared light as heat. This is made possible by a super-cold sun-shield made of kapton that enables the instrument to detect faint heat signals. With a mirror six times the size of the Hubble Space Telescope, the Webb telescope reflects infrared light and, in conjunction with NIRCAM, provides us with unprecedented views of outer space. Unlike Hubble, which orbits the Earth, Webb is positioned on the opposite side of the sun at Lagrange Point 2 (L2), a fixed and cold location in space where the gravitational forces from the Sun and Earth are balanced. The Webb telescope has also thrilled us with other remarkable images, including detailed portraits of Jupiter and Saturn.
Big Number
$10 Billion – the cost incurred by NASA to construct the Webb telescope.
Further Reading
Webb Celebrates First Year of Science with Close-up on Birth of Sun-like Stars (NASA)
NASA Just Issued A Jaw-Dropping New Image From The Webb Telescope (Forbes)
Revealed: The Webb Telescope’s Jaw-Dropping New ‘Ultra Deep’ Image That Uses Warped Spacetime (Forbes)
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Jessica Irvine is a tech enthusiast specializing in gadgets. From smart home devices to cutting-edge electronics, Jessica explores the world of consumer tech, offering readers comprehensive reviews, hands-on experiences, and expert insights into the coolest and most innovative gadgets on the market.
