Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
By Universe Today (Reporter)
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

New Webb Image of a Massive Star Forming Complex

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


The James Webb Space Telescope, a collaborative effort between NASA, the ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), has revealed some stunning new images of the Universe. These images have not only been the clearest and most details views of the cosmos; they’ve also led to new insight into cosmological phenomena. The latest image, acquired by Webb‘s Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI), is of the star-forming nebula N79, located about 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The image features a bright young star and the nebula’s glowing clouds of dust and gas from which new stars form.

The image above is centered on one of the three giant molecular cloud complexes – dubbed N79 South (S1) – a region dominated by interstellar atomic hydrogen that is ionized. The star is identifiable as the brightest spot in the image, surrounded by six large spokes of light that cross the image. The processed image uses many different colors to indicate different infrared wavelengths, with near-infrared light (7.7-10 microns) shown in blue, while mid-infrared wavelengths (10, 15, and 21 microns) are shown in cyan, yellow, and red (respectively).


The Tarantula Nebula as seen by the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Webb ERO Production Team.

This N79 nebula spans over 500 parsecs (1,630 light-years) in the largely unexplored southwest region of the LMC and is often regarded as the younger sibling to the Tarantula Nebula (aka. 30 Doradus). This nebula was imaged recently by Webb (see above), where combined light from varying wavelengths created a detailed image revealing many interesting features (like star-forming regions astronomers were not expecting to find). However, research suggests that for the past 500,000 years, N79 has had star formation efficiency more than twice that of the Tarantula Nebula.

Several other bright objects can be seen in the cloud, which are stars in the early stages of formation (aka. protostars) shown in great detail as layers of colorful wisps. Thanks to Webb‘s ability to capture longer and shorter wavelengths of infrared light, these latest image provides insight into the nebula’s star forming regions. Since shorter wavelengths are absorbed or scattered by dust grains, mid-infrared light reveals what is happening deeper inside the clouds (which include some young protostars). The image shows a distinct “starburst” pattern surrounding a bright object.

This is known as a “diffraction spike,” an artifact only visible around very bright and compact objects that arises from the design of a telescope’s mirrors. In this case, the six diffraction spikes extending from the center are due to the hexagonal symmetry of Webb’s eighteen primary mirror segments. Astronomers are particularly interested in star-forming regions because their chemical composition resembles that of nebulas observed when the Universe was only a few billion years old.

Unlike nebulae in the Milky Way today, star formation was at its peak during this time, producing particularly massive stars with low concentrations of metal and short-lived by current standards. By taking details images from N79 and similar nebulae, astronomers can compare and contrast star-formation rates to deep observations of distant galaxies in the early Universe.


Webb images of early galaxies shaped like surfboards and pool noodles. Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA

These latest observations by Webb are part of a program to study the evolution of circumstellar discs and envelopes around stars in formation over a wide range of mass and evolutionary stages. Webb‘s sensitivity will allow astronomers for the first time, to detect these planet-forming disks around stars of similar mass to that of our Sun and at distances comparable to that of the LMC (around 160,000 light-years). This will shed light on how planetary systems like our own formed and evolved, potentially providing clues as to where life may have also emerged in our galaxy.

Further Reading: ESA

The post New Webb Image of a Massive Star Forming Complex appeared first on Universe Today.


Source: https://www.universetoday.com/165392/new-webb-image-of-a-massive-star-forming-complex/


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Humic & Fulvic Liquid Trace Mineral Complex

HerbAnomic’s Humic and Fulvic Liquid Trace Mineral Complex is a revolutionary New Humic and Fulvic Acid Complex designed to support your body at the cellular level. Our product has been thoroughly tested by an ISO/IEC Certified Lab for toxins and Heavy metals as well as for trace mineral content. We KNOW we have NO lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminum etc. in our Formula. This Humic & Fulvic Liquid Trace Mineral complex has high trace levels of naturally occurring Humic and Fulvic Acids as well as high trace levels of Zinc, Iron, Magnesium, Molybdenum, Potassium and more. There is a wide range of up to 70 trace minerals which occur naturally in our Complex at varying levels. We Choose to list the 8 substances which occur in higher trace levels on our supplement panel. We don’t claim a high number of minerals as other Humic and Fulvic Supplements do and leave you to guess which elements you’ll be getting. Order Your Humic Fulvic for Your Family by Clicking on this Link , or the Banner Below.



Our Formula is an exceptional value compared to other Humic Fulvic Minerals because...


It’s OXYGENATED

It Always Tests at 9.5+ pH

Preservative and Chemical Free

Allergen Free

Comes From a Pure, Unpolluted, Organic Source

Is an Excellent Source for Trace Minerals

Is From Whole, Prehisoric Plant Based Origin Material With Ionic Minerals and Constituents

Highly Conductive/Full of Extra Electrons

Is a Full Spectrum Complex


Our Humic and Fulvic Liquid Trace Mineral Complex has Minerals, Amino Acids, Poly Electrolytes, Phytochemicals, Polyphenols, Bioflavonoids and Trace Vitamins included with the Humic and Fulvic Acid. Our Source material is high in these constituents, where other manufacturers use inferior materials.


Try Our Humic and Fulvic Liquid Trace Mineral Complex today. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.

Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.