Webb image reveals dust-hidden stars in NGC 7129
ESA has released a Webb image of a star-forming region 3,300 light-years away, revealing stars hidden by dust and the effects of stellar outflows.
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The European Space Agency published the image on 6 October, showing a view of NGC 7129 in which numerous stars previously hidden by dust are visible. Webb detects infrared light that can pass through material which blocks other kinds of light, ESA says. [1]
ESA identifies the prominent central star as LkHα 234 and estimates its mass at five to eight times that of the Sun. To its left, a golden cavity stretches about 3.5 light-years. ESA says outflows from an earlier stage of the star’s life carved the cavity, while those outflows and the star’s light energise the gas, making it glow. [1]
To the right, ESA identifies younger protostars in red, clumpy material. It says hot matter ejected as they grow collides with the dense material around them, creating shocks that give the region its textured appearance. [1]
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