July 12 (UPI) — In celebration of the one-year anniversary of the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA has unveiled a high-quality image showcasing a star forming region within the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex.
This mesmerizing star-forming region captured in the image is located approximately 390 light years away, making it the closest star-forming region to our planet.
The image depicts a region containing about 50 young stars, all with a mass similar to or smaller than that of the Sun. The darker regions indicate denser areas where protostars are still forming within thick dust cocoons.
Additionally, the image displays vibrant red jets of molecular hydrogen, which occur when a new star emerges from its cosmic dust envelope.
While most of the stars featured in the image are comparable in size to our Sun, one standout star named S1 surpasses the rest in size.
Notably, some of the stars within the region are surrounded by shadows, indicating the presence of protoplanetary disks that have the potential to evolve into planets.
“Webb’s image of Rho Ophiuchi grants us a remarkable glimpse into a fleeting phase of stellar life with unprecedented clarity. Our own Sun experienced a similar stage long ago, and now technological advancements allow us to witness the beginning of another star’s narrative,” remarked Klaus Pontoppidan, Webb project scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD.
Last July, U.S. President Joe Biden revealed the first set of full-color images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. Among them was a “deep field” image of stars, which NASA hailed as the deepest infrared image documented up to that point.
“In just one year, the James Webb Space Telescope has revolutionized humanity’s perception of the cosmos, allowing us to peer into dust clouds and observe light originating from the farthest corners of the universe for the very first time. Every new image serves as a captivating scientific discovery, empowering researchers worldwide to pose and answer questions that were once unimaginable,” stated NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
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