NASA’s Webb Uncovers Star Formation in Cluster’s Dusty Ribbons.
NGC 346, one of the most dynamic star-forming regions in nearby galaxies, is full of mystery.
Now, it is less mysterious with new findings from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
NCG 346 is located in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a dwarf galaxy close to our Milky Way.
The SMC contains lower concentrations of elements heavier than hydrogen or helium, which astronomers call metals, compared to the Milky Way.
Since dust grains in space are composed mostly of metals, scientists expected there would be low amounts of dust, and that it would be hard to detect.
New data from Webb reveals the opposite.
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Astronomers probed this region because the conditions and amount of metals within the SMC resemble those seen in galaxies billions of years ago, during an era in the universe known as “cosmic noon,” when star formation was at its peak.
Foreign [Music] NASA's web uncovers star formation and Cluster's Dusty ribbons NGC 346 one of The most dynamic star-forming regions in Nearby galaxies is full of mystery now It is less mysterious with new findings From NASA's James Webb Space Telescope NCG 346 is located in the small Magellanic Cloud SMC a dwarf Galaxy Close to our Milky Way the SMC contains Lower concentrations of elements heavier Than hydrogen or helium which Astronomers call Metals compared to the Milky Way since dusk grains in space are Composed mostly of metals scientists Expected there would be low amounts of Dust and that it would be hard to detect New data from Webb reveals the opposite To stay up to date with latest top Stories make sure to subscribe to this YouTube channel by clicking the button Above this video astronomers probed this Region because the conditions and amount Of metals within the SMC resemble those Seen in galaxies billions of years ago During an era in the universe known as Cosmic noon when Star formation was at Its peak some two to three billion years After the big bang galaxies were forming Stars at a furious rate the fireworks of Star formation happening then still Shaped the galaxies we see around us Today a Galaxy during Cosmic noon
Wouldn't have one NGC 346 Lake the small Magellanic Cloud does it would have Thousands of star-forming regions like This one said Margaret meixner an Astronomer at the University's space Research Association and principal Investigator of the research team but Even if NGC 346 is now the one and only Massive cluster furiously forming stars In its Galaxy it offers us a great Opportunity to probe conditions that Were in place at Cosmic noon by Observing protostars still in the Process of forming researchers can learn If the star formation process in the SMC Is different from what we observe in our Own Milky Way previous infrared studies Of NGC 346 have focused on protostars Heavier than about five to eight times The mass of our sun with web we can Probe down to lighter weight protostars As small as one tenth of our sun to see If their formation process is affected By the lower metal content set Olivia Jones of the United Kingdom astronomy Technology Center Royal Observatory Edinburgh a co-investigator on the Program as stars form they gather gas And dust which can look like ribbons and Web imagery from the surrounding Molecular cloud the material collects Into an accretion disk that feeds the Central protostar astronomers have Detected gas around protostars with nngc
346 but webs near infrared observations Mark the first time they have also Detected dust in these discs we're Seeing the building blocks not only of Stars but also potentially of planets Said Guido de Marchi of the European Space Agency a co-investigator on the Research team and since the small Magellanic cloud has a similar Environment to galaxies during Cosmic Noon it's possible that rocky planets Could have formed earlier in the Universe than we might have thought the Team also has spectroscopic observations From Webb's nurse spec instrument that They are continuing to analyze these Data are expected to provide new Insights into the material accrediting Onto individual protostars as well as The environment immediately surrounding The protostar these results are being Presented January 11 in a press Conference at the 241st meeting of the American Astronomical Society the Observations were obtained as part of Program 1227 the James Webb Space Telescope is the world's Premier Space Science Observatory Webb will solve Mysteries in our Solar System look Beyond to Distant Worlds around other Stars and probe the mysterious Structures and origins of our universe And our place in it web is an International program led by NASA with
Its Partners Isa European space agency And the Canadian space agency Foreign [Music]
