Astronomers have captured a stunning image of a cosmic “Christmas wreath” in the Small Magellanic Cloud galaxy, using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory. The cluster, NGC 602, is a group of hot, young blue stars born from the collapse of a gas cloud. The image shows the region’s intricate structures of dust and gas, providing a glimpse into the life cycle of stars.
Located 200,000 light-years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud galaxy, NGC 602 is a dwarf galaxy orbiting our Milky Way galaxy. It offers scientists a unique opportunity to study how stars form in a galaxy that is close to, but very different from the Milky Way.
The gas in the SMC contains fewer heavy elements than what is found in the far larger Milky Way. The stars in NGC 602 may be mimicking those born billions of years ago, when the universe was younger and had less complex chemistry. This discovery provides a rare glimpse into the early universe and could shed light on how galaxies evolved over time.
The composite image combines X-ray data from Chandra with infrared data from James Webb, revealing the presence of young, massive stars emitting high-energy radiation and intricate structures of dust and gas.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/space-photo-of-the-week-james-webb-and-chandra-spot-a-cosmic-christmas-wreath-sparkling-in-the-galaxy-next-door