In the 2024 Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes Calendar, the month of July features twin views of the galaxy NGC 3256 🌌 the result of an ancient clash between two galaxies.
Pdf here: https://t.co/S7IcOtdzku
Left: @NASA, @ESA, @csa_asc, L. Armus, A. Evans
Right: NASA, ESA pic.twitter.com/JWSUElzIAV— ESA Webb Telescope (@ESA_Webb) July 2, 2024
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of a young protostar forming within the dark molecular cloud L1527. The image, taken with Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), reveals a vibrant hourglass-shaped structure approximately 460 light-years away in the constellation Taurus. The protostar, about 100,000 years old, is seen gathering material from its surrounding gas and dust.
The varying colors in the image indicate different interactions with the molecular cloud.
🆕 Webb has captured a molecular cloud ☁️ harbouring a protostar! Read more: https://t.co/7imJnQix9r or 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/r0yxs985gQ
— ESA Webb Telescope (@ESA_Webb) July 2, 2024
Bright regions are a result of energetic outflows that interact with the surrounding matter, causing the regions above and below the protostar to glow. Blue areas in the image denote regions filled with carbonaceous molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), while red regions at the center indicate a dense, energized layer of gas and dust around the protostar.
Star-spangled 🎆
Webb’s new red, white and blue image features a star-to-be: a protostar. Only about 100,000 years old, this relatively young object is hidden in the “neck” of the hourglass-shaped cloud of gas and dust: https://t.co/zHHSKnbcDq pic.twitter.com/Uf6ToiBkMl
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) July 2, 2024
A white region situated directly above and below the protostar is a mix of hydrocarbons, ionized gas, and thick dust.
Webb unveils young star dynamics
As the protostar continues to grow, it will eventually expel and consume the surrounding gas and dust, leading the vibrant structures observed today to dissipate.
Once it has accumulated sufficient mass, the young star will become visible, marking the end of its dynamic formation phase. The James Webb Space Telescope, launched on December 25, 2021, is designed to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths. Its capabilities allow for unprecedented resolution and sensitivity, making it possible to explore star formation processes and other cosmic phenomena in detail.
This new image not only celebrates the ongoing discoveries made possible by Webb but also brings to light the intricate and beautiful processes that give rise to new stars, enriching our understanding of the cosmos. The James Webb Space Telescope continues to solve mysteries within our solar system and beyond, probing the origins of the universe and our place in it. Webb is an international collaboration led by NASA, along with its partners, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Noah Nguyen is a multi-talented developer who brings a unique perspective to his craft. Initially a creative writing professor, he turned to Dev work for the ability to work remotely. He now lives in Seattle, spending time hiking and drinking craft beer with his fiancee.
