Tarantula Stars R136 from Webb
Explanation:
Near the center of a nearby star-forming region lies a massive cluster containing
some of the largest and hottest stars known.
Collectively known as star cluster
NGC 2070,
these stars are part of the vast
Tarantula Nebula
and were captured in two kinds of
infrared light by the
new
Webb Space Telescope.
The
main image shows the group of stars at NGC 2070's center -- known as
R136 -- in
near-infrared, light just a bit too red for
humans to see.
In contrast, the
rollover image captures the cluster center in mid-infrared light,
light closer to
radio waves.
Since
R136's brightest stars emit
more of their light in the near infrared, they are much
more prominent on that image.
This
LMC cluster's massive stars emit particle winds
and energetic light that are evaporating the gas cloud from which they formed.
The Webb images, released yesterday, shows details of
R136 and
its surroundings
that have never been seen before,
details that are helping humanity to better understanding of how all
stars are born, evolve and die.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
