Stunning image of stars being born helps Nasa celebrate a year of JWST

To celebrate one year since the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) began transforming how we view the universe, Nasa has released a breathtaking image of the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex.

The image shows a region containing around 50 young stars, most of them the same size or smaller than our Sun, with the notable exception of the star S1, shining from the centre of a glowing ‘cave of dust’.

In a statement, Nasa added: ‘The darkest areas are the densest, where thick dust cocoons still-forming protostars. 

‘Huge bipolar jets of molecular hydrogen, represented in red, dominate the image, appearing horizontally across the upper third and vertically on the right. These occur when a star first bursts through its natal envelope of cosmic dust, shooting out a pair of opposing jets into space like a newborn first stretching her arms out into the world.’

The cloud complex is 390 light-years away – where one light-year is almost six trillion miles. However, it is the closest star-forming region to Earth, with no stars in between to obscure the view.

‘Webb is an investment in American innovation but also a scientific feat made possible with Nasa’s international partners that share a can-do spirit to push the boundaries of what is known to be possible. 

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‘Thousands of engineers, scientists, and leaders poured their life’s passion into this mission, and their efforts will continue to improve our understanding of the origins of the universe – and our place in it.’

Since revealing its first images in July last year, the JWST has helped astronomers across the globe further our understanding of the cosmos, whether discovering new planets, or finding ancient galaxies that prompt a rethink of the entire universe.

‘On its first anniversary, the James Webb Space Telescope has already delivered upon its promise to unfold the universe, gifting humanity with a breathtaking treasure trove of images and science that will last for decades,’ said Nicola Fox, associate administrator of Nasa’s science mission directorate in Washington. 

‘An engineering marvel built by the world’s leading scientists and engineers, Webb has given us a more intricate understanding of galaxies, stars, and the atmospheres of planets outside of our solar system than ever before, laying the groundwork for Nasa to lead the world in a new era of scientific discovery and the search for habitable worlds.’

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