\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA\u2019s Webb Probes an Extreme Starburst Galaxy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Left:](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/webb-stsci-01hrd1z19wzymnb8j1bnvss1he-4k.jpg?w=1536\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe starburst galaxy M82 as observed by NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope and NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCredits: <\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, A. Bolatto (University of Maryland)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nAmid a site teeming with new and young stars lies an intricate substructure.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\nA team of astronomers has used NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope to survey the starburst galaxy<\/a> Messier 82 (M82). Located 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major, this galaxy is relatively compact in size but hosts a frenzy of star formation<\/a> activity. For comparison, M82 is sprouting new stars 10 times faster than the Milky Way galaxy.<\/p>\nLed by Alberto Bolatto at the University of Maryland, College Park, the team directed Webb\u2019s NIRCam<\/a> (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument toward the starburst galaxy\u2019s center, attaining a closer look at the physical conditions that foster the formation of new stars.<\/p>\n\u201cM82 has garnered a variety of observations over the years because it can be considered as the prototypical starburst galaxy,\u201d said Bolatto, lead author of the study. \u201cBoth NASA\u2019s Spitzer<\/a> and Hubble space telescopes<\/a> have observed this target. With Webb\u2019s size and resolution, we can look at this star-forming galaxy and see all of this beautiful, new detail.\u201d<\/p>\nImage: M82 observed by the Hubble and Webb Telescopes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Left:](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/webb-stsci-01hrd1z19wzymnb8j1bnvss1he-4k.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nOn the left is the starburst galaxy M82 as observed by NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope in 2006. The small box at the galaxy\u2019s core corresponds to the area captured so far by the NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument on NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope. The red filaments as seen by Webb are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission, which traces the shape of the galactic wind. In the Hubble image, light at .814 microns is colored red, .658 microns is red-orange, .555 microns is green, and .435 microns is blue (filters F814W, F658N, F555W, and F435W, respectively). In the Webb image, light at 3.35 microns is colored red, 2.50 microns is green, and 1.64 microns is blue (filters F335M, F250M, and F164N, respectively). <\/div>\nNASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, A. Bolatto (University of Maryland)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA Vibrant Community of Stars<\/strong><\/h2>\nStar formation continues to maintain a sense of mystery because it is shrouded by curtains of dust and gas, creating an obstacle in observing this process. Fortunately, Webb\u2019s ability to peer in the infrared is an asset in navigating these murky conditions. Additionally, these NIRCam images of the very center of the starburst were obtained using an instrument mode that prevented the very bright source from overwhelming the detector.<\/p>\n
While dark brown tendrils of heavy dust are threaded throughout M82\u2019s glowing white core even in this infrared view, Webb\u2019s NIRCam has revealed a level of detail that has historically been obscured. Looking closer toward the center, small specks depicted in green denote concentrated areas of iron, most of which are supernova remnants. Small patches that appear red signify regions where molecular hydrogen is being lit up by a nearby young star\u2019s radiation.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, A. Bolatto (University of Maryland)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Amid a site teeming with new and young stars lies an intricate substructure.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n A team of astronomers has used NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope to survey the starburst galaxy<\/a> Messier 82 (M82). Located 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major, this galaxy is relatively compact in size but hosts a frenzy of star formation<\/a> activity. For comparison, M82 is sprouting new stars 10 times faster than the Milky Way galaxy.<\/p>\n Led by Alberto Bolatto at the University of Maryland, College Park, the team directed Webb\u2019s NIRCam<\/a> (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument toward the starburst galaxy\u2019s center, attaining a closer look at the physical conditions that foster the formation of new stars.<\/p>\n \u201cM82 has garnered a variety of observations over the years because it can be considered as the prototypical starburst galaxy,\u201d said Bolatto, lead author of the study. \u201cBoth NASA\u2019s Spitzer<\/a> and Hubble space telescopes<\/a> have observed this target. With Webb\u2019s size and resolution, we can look at this star-forming galaxy and see all of this beautiful, new detail.\u201d<\/p>\n Star formation continues to maintain a sense of mystery because it is shrouded by curtains of dust and gas, creating an obstacle in observing this process. Fortunately, Webb\u2019s ability to peer in the infrared is an asset in navigating these murky conditions. Additionally, these NIRCam images of the very center of the starburst were obtained using an instrument mode that prevented the very bright source from overwhelming the detector.<\/p>\n While dark brown tendrils of heavy dust are threaded throughout M82\u2019s glowing white core even in this infrared view, Webb\u2019s NIRCam has revealed a level of detail that has historically been obscured. Looking closer toward the center, small specks depicted in green denote concentrated areas of iron, most of which are supernova remnants. Small patches that appear red signify regions where molecular hydrogen is being lit up by a nearby young star\u2019s radiation.<\/p>\nImage: M82 observed by the Hubble and Webb Telescopes<\/h2>\n
<\/figure>A Vibrant Community of Stars<\/strong><\/h2>\n