Скачать или смотреть Universe | James Webb | Tarantula Nebula

In this expansive composite image spanning 340 light-years, the Tarantula Nebula's star-forming region is revealed in a fresh perspective by Webb's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). The image unveils countless young stars, previously concealed by cosmic dust, that had never been observed before. The most dynamic area of the nebula sparkles with massive young stars, casting a pale blue hue. Interspersed among them are stars still embedded within the nebula, appearing red as they have yet to emerge from their dusty cocoons. NIRCam's exceptional resolution at near-infrared wavelengths enables the detection of these stars enshrouded in dust.

Towards the upper left of the young star cluster and at the top of the nebula's cavity, an older star prominently exhibits NIRCam's distinct eight diffraction spikes—an artifact resulting from the structure of the telescope. Tracing the top central spike of this star upwards, it almost aligns with a remarkable bubble within the cloud. This bubble is being created by young stars that are still surrounded by dusty material, and it signifies the initiation of their own carved-out cavity. Astronomers employed two of Webb's spectrographs to scrutinize this region and determine the chemical composition of the star and the gas surrounding it. This spectral information will provide insights into the nebula's age and the number of star generations it has witnessed.

Further away from the central region of hot young stars, cooler gas adopts a rusty color, indicating the abundance of complex hydrocarbons within the nebula. This dense gas serves as the building material for future stars. As winds generated by the massive stars disperse gas and dust, some of it accumulates and, with the assistance of gravity, coalesces to form new stars.

Copyright: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team

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