The European Space Agency’s (ESA) and NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have released a stunning new image of the young star cluster NGC 346, located in the Small Magellanic Cloud, one of the largest satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. The image showcases the vibrant star-forming factory, combining data from Hubble’s infrared, optical, and ultraviolet wavelengths.
NGC 346 is home to over 2500 newborn stars, including massive stars that blaze with intense blue light. The cluster’s hot stars produce radiation and fierce stellar winds that disperse the surrounding nebula, creating a swirling, pink gas cloud. This phenomenon is known as an H II region, which shines only as long as the stars that power it – in this case, mere few million years.
Researchers used two sets of observations taken 11 years apart to track the motion of NGC 346’s stars, revealing a spiralling pattern towards the cluster’s center. The gas stream from outside the cluster fuels star formation in the center, creating a dynamic and turbulent environment.
The new image was developed from multiple Hubble observing programmes, providing a detailed view of this cosmic scene for the public to enjoy. As part of ESA/Hubble’s 35th anniversary celebrations, the image series combines new processing techniques with the latest data from Hubble, revisiting stunning targets that were previously released.
This release marks an exciting milestone in the Hubble Space Telescope project, showcasing its continued excellence in astronomical research and imaging.
Source: https://esahubble.org/news/heic2502