3 min read<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s Webb Captures an Ethereal View of NGC 346<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/webb-stsci-01hbvhzw1q7gtj0vrpe721t5pt.png\")
<\/figure>\nThis new infrared image of NGC 346 from NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope\u2019s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) traces emission from cool gas and dust. In this image blue represents silicates and sooty chemical molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. More diffuse red emission shines from warm dust heated by the brightest and most massive stars in the heart of the region. Bright patches and filaments mark areas with abundant numbers of protostars. This image includes 7.7-micron light shown in blue, 10 microns in cyan, 11.3 microns in green, 15 microns in yellow, and 21 microns in red (770W, 1000W, 1130W, 1500W, and 2100W filters, respectively). <\/div>\nCredit<\/strong>: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, N. Habel (JPL). Image Processing: P. Kavanagh (Maynooth University).<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDownload the full-resolution version<\/a> <\/strong>from the Space Telescope Science Institute.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\nFilaments of dust and gas festoon this star-forming region in a new infrared image from MIRI.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\nOne of the greatest strengths of NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope is its ability to give astronomers detailed views of areas where new stars are being born. The latest example, showcased here in a new image from Webb\u2019s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), is NGC 346 \u2013 the brightest and largest star-forming region in the Small Magellanic Cloud.<\/p>\n
The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, visible to the unaided eye in the southern constellation Tucana. This small companion galaxy is more primeval than the Milky Way in that it possesses fewer heavy elements, which are forged in stars through nuclear fusion and supernova explosions, compared to our own galaxy.<\/p>\n
Since cosmic dust is formed from heavy elements like silicon and oxygen, scientists expected the SMC to lack significant amounts of dust. However the new MIRI image, as well as a previous image of NGC 346 from Webb\u2019s Near-Infrared Camera released in January<\/a>, show ample dust within this region.<\/p>\nIn this representative-color image, blue tendrils trace emission from material that includes dusty silicates and sooty chemical molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. More diffuse red emission shines from warm dust heated by the brightest and most massive stars in the heart of the region. An arc at the center left may be a reflection of light from the star near the arc\u2019s center. (Similar, fainter arcs appear associated with stars at lower left and upper right.) Lastly, bright patches and filaments mark areas with abundant numbers of protostars<\/a>. The research team looked for the reddest stars, and found 1,001 pinpoint sources of light, most of them young stars still embedded in their dusty cocoons.<\/p>\nBy combining Webb data in both the near-infrared and mid-infrared, astronomers are able to take a fuller census of the stars and protostars within this dynamic region. The results have implications for our understanding of galaxies that existed billions of years ago, during an era in the universe known as \u201ccosmic noon,\u201d when star formation was at its peak and heavy element concentrations were lower, as seen in the SMC.The James Webb Space Telescope is the world\u2019s premier space science observatory. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\nWebb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\nMedia Contacts:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nLaura\u00a0Betz<\/strong><\/em>
NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.<\/strong><\/em>
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nChristine\u00a0Pulliam<\/strong><\/em>
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.<\/strong><\/em>
cpulliam@stsci.edu<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
<\/figure>Download the full-resolution version<\/a> <\/strong>from the Space Telescope Science Institute.<\/p>\n Filaments of dust and gas festoon this star-forming region in a new infrared image from MIRI.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n One of the greatest strengths of NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope is its ability to give astronomers detailed views of areas where new stars are being born. The latest example, showcased here in a new image from Webb\u2019s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), is NGC 346 \u2013 the brightest and largest star-forming region in the Small Magellanic Cloud.<\/p>\n The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, visible to the unaided eye in the southern constellation Tucana. This small companion galaxy is more primeval than the Milky Way in that it possesses fewer heavy elements, which are forged in stars through nuclear fusion and supernova explosions, compared to our own galaxy.<\/p>\n Since cosmic dust is formed from heavy elements like silicon and oxygen, scientists expected the SMC to lack significant amounts of dust. However the new MIRI image, as well as a previous image of NGC 346 from Webb\u2019s Near-Infrared Camera released in January<\/a>, show ample dust within this region.<\/p>\n In this representative-color image, blue tendrils trace emission from material that includes dusty silicates and sooty chemical molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. More diffuse red emission shines from warm dust heated by the brightest and most massive stars in the heart of the region. An arc at the center left may be a reflection of light from the star near the arc\u2019s center. (Similar, fainter arcs appear associated with stars at lower left and upper right.) Lastly, bright patches and filaments mark areas with abundant numbers of protostars<\/a>. The research team looked for the reddest stars, and found 1,001 pinpoint sources of light, most of them young stars still embedded in their dusty cocoons.<\/p>\n By combining Webb data in both the near-infrared and mid-infrared, astronomers are able to take a fuller census of the stars and protostars within this dynamic region. The results have implications for our understanding of galaxies that existed billions of years ago, during an era in the universe known as \u201ccosmic noon,\u201d when star formation was at its peak and heavy element concentrations were lower, as seen in the SMC.The James Webb Space Telescope is the world\u2019s premier space science observatory. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Media Contacts:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Laura\u00a0Betz<\/strong><\/em> Christine\u00a0Pulliam<\/strong><\/em>
NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.<\/strong><\/em>
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.<\/strong><\/em>
cpulliam@stsci.edu<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n