NASA · Space

Carina Nebula Star Formation Revealed by Webb Telescope

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured an image of a star-forming dust pillar within the Carina Nebula, located approximately 7,500 light-years away.

The pillar, composed of interstellar gas and dust, is shaped by intense stellar winds and radiation from nearby stars, including the Eta Carinae system.

Star formation within the pillar is creating an opening, resembling an excavated treasure chest.

Astronomers estimate about 70 stars are clustered inside this pillar, with the cluster being around 1.3 million years old.

The young stars include a massive star roughly 19 times the mass of the Sun. More massive stars are rarer, brighter, and evolve faster.

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