Located about 200,000 light years from Earth Small Magellanic Clouda relatively small galaxy with several hundred million stars. On the edge is a cluster known as NGC 602which has an environment similar to that of our universe in its early stages. Thanks to the James Webb telescope, we can now view this region of the sky in stunning detail.
Using combined data from the near-infrared camera and the mid-infrared instrument, astronomers have stitched together an incredibly high-resolution composite that contains the shimmering edges of a galaxy rich in star formation.
According to researchers, this region has “very low amounts of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. The existence of dark clouds of dense dust and the fact that the cluster is rich in ionized gas also indicate the presence of ongoing star formation processes.”
The Small Magellanic Cloud is one of the few intergalactic bodies visible to the naked eye and a close neighbor to our home in the Milky Way. These findings provide astonishing insight into how stars came to life.
If Kottke comments, it’s worth zooming in on the image and explore every reach of this amazing nursery.
