Science & Tech · Space · 2 hrs ago
Webb telescope captures star-forming region N159 in the Large Magellanic Cloud
The James Webb Space Telescope captured N159, a turbulent region where new stars are forming.
N159 is 161,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy that orbits the Milky Way.
The region is filled with ionised hydrogen gas, which is hydrogen stripped of electrons.
In the image, orange light comes from carbon-based molecules, while pale blue clouds show hydrogen gas lit by massive stars.
Dark red filaments mark the densest parts of the region, where cool molecular hydrogen gathers.
These filaments shield forming stars from intense radiation and stellar winds.
The observation was selected as the telescope’s Picture of the Month; no further steps were announced.
The James Webb Space Telescope captured the star-forming region N159 in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
N159 is about 161,000 light-years away and spans roughly 230 light-years.
The region is filled with ionised hydrogen gas and contains dense clumps where stars are forming.
The image’s colours show different materials, including carbon-based molecules, ionised gas and cool molecular hydrogen.
- Who
- Astronomers using the NASA/ESA James Webb Space Telescope.
- What
- They captured an image of N159, a turbulent star-forming region.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- In the Large Magellanic Cloud, about 161,000 light-years away.
- Why
- To observe a region where stars are forming.
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- Region
- N159
- Distance
- 161,000 light-years
- Image span
- About 230 light-years
- Galaxy
- Large Magellanic Cloud
- Type
- H II region
What people are saying
The colours of this image are interesting because they represent its chemistry.
The dark red filaments across the center of the image are made of cool molecular hydrogen.