Current:Home > NewsWebb telescope captures outskirts of Milky Way in 'unprecedented' detail: See photo -Blueprint Money Mastery
Webb telescope captures outskirts of Milky Way in 'unprecedented' detail: See photo
View
Date:2025-04-14 15:00:57
- The stunning image that Webb produced shows newly formed stars in the outer galaxy emitting jets of material in all directions, set against a backdrop of a sea of galaxies and red clouds of gas.
- Webb's imagery has enabled scientists to better study star formation in the outer Milky Way.
The James Webb Space Telescope has spent three years observing remote galaxies, black holes and distant planets, but its latest discovery was a little bit closer to home.
A team of NASA astronomers recently pointed the spacefaring telescope toward the outskirts of our own Milky Way galaxy to get a glimpse of some dense cosmic clouds home to star clusters undergoing star formation.
The region that attracted the researchers' attention is one referred to as "the extreme outer galaxy" – and that's not an exaggeration. While Earth is located about 26,000 light-years from what's known as the galactic center, the outer portions of the Milky Way are even further, at about 58,000 light-years from our galaxy's central region.
The stunning image that Webb produced shows newly-formed stars in the outer galaxy emitting jets of material in all directions, set against a backdrop of a sea of galaxies and red clouds of gas.
Shown in unprecedented resolution, Webb's imagery has enabled scientists to better study star formation in the outer Milky Way, astronomer Natsuko Izumi, who led a study with the latest findings, said in a statement.
"We can get very powerful and impressive images of these clouds with Webb," said Izumi, an astronomer at Gifu University and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. "I did not expect to see such active star formation and spectacular jets.”
James Webb image shows protostars, jets
The researchers used Webb’s state-of-the-art Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument(MIRI) to image select regions within two molecular clouds.
The resulting visual, compiled from those sections of the outer galaxy, depict young protostars, which are so early in their stellar evolution that they are still gathering mass from parent molecular clouds. Also visible in the image are outflows of superheated gas called "plasma," as well as nebular structures.
“What was fascinating and astounding to me from the Webb data is that there are multiple jets shooting out in all different directions from this cluster of stars," said scientist Mike Ressler of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, who led observations. "It’s a little bit like a firecracker, where you see things shooting this way and that."
Researchers hope to study 'extreme outer galaxy' more
Star formation is a complex process that has long held a degree of mystery for astronomers.
While Webb's latest data provides more context to help astronomers piece together some answers, the imagery only "skims the surface," the researchers said. The researchers said they intend to further study the extreme outer galaxy for more clues to explain, for instance, why stars of various sizes are found in relative abundance in the region's star clusters.
“I’m interested in continuing to study how star formation is occurring in these regions," Izumi said. "By combining data from different observatories and telescopes, we can examine each stage in the evolution process."
The team's research was published in August in the Astronomical Journal.
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
veryGood! (32428)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- 'Humanity has opened the gates of hell,' UN Secretary-General says of climate urgency
- DeSantis plays up fight with House speaker after McCarthy said he is not on the same level as Trump
- India suspends visa services in Canada and rift widens over killing of Canadian citizen
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- QDOBA will serve larger free 3-Cheese Queso sides in honor of National Queso Day
- Drew Barrymore says she will pause the return of her talk show until the strike is over
- David Beckham Netflix docuseries gets release date and trailer amid Inter Miami CF hype
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- Danny Masterson's wife, Bijou Phillips, files for divorce following actor's sentencing for rape convictions
Ranking
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Ukraine, Russia and the tense U.N. encounter that almost happened — but didn’t
- No Labels push in closely divided Arizona fuels Democratic anxiety about a Biden spoiler
- What Ariana Grande Is Asking for in Dalton Gomez Divorce
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- K-Pop Group Stray Kids' Lee Know, Hyunjin and Seungmin Involved in Car Accident
- Teen rescued after getting stuck dangling 700 feet above river on California's tallest bridge
- Japanese crown prince begins Vietnam visit, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations
Recommendation
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
Russell Brand's assault, rape allegations being investigated: What his accusers say happened
Lorde Shares “Hard” Life Update on Mystery Illness and Heartbreak
4 firefighters heading home after battling B.C. wildfires die in vehicle crash in Canada
Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
Judge dismisses two suits filed by man whose work as informant inspired the movie ‘White Boy Rick’
Connecticut agrees to a $25 million settlement in the Henry Lee evidence fabrication case
'Humanity has opened the gates of hell,' UN Secretary-General says of climate urgency