HomeAstronomyBaby stars throw cosmic tantrums in iconic Webb Space Telescope image

Baby stars throw cosmic tantrums in iconic Webb Space Telescope image

Scientists reexamining the James Webb Space Telescope’s iconic “Cosmic Cliffs” image of the star cluster NGC 3324, have spotted a rare sight: protostars emitting two dozen powerful jets and outflows.

Although the process itself is not a surprise — astronomers were already aware that the phenomenon occurs during stellar formation — it has been difficult to image due to the dense clouds of dust and gas that surround young stars. The Hubble Space Telescope, for instance, has also imaged NGC 3324, but could not see the jets in visible light. The James Webb Space Telescope, however, has more powerful equipment and observes in infrared light, which revealed the jets, some of which stretch multiple light-years long. 

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