NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has detected thick layers of dust in the Cat's Claw Nebula, a star-forming region located about 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius, the agency reported.
“It's a cat's meow,” NASA said in a press release.
NASA pointed the near-infrared camera on its James Webb Space Telescope at one of the “bean fingers” among a group of such features in the nebula, which are thought to contain young stars shaping the surrounding gas and dust in a star-forming region.
This discovery was the result of many years of research into this area of space.
“Three years into its mission, Webb continues to realize its goals, revealing previously hidden aspects of the universe, from how stars form to the earliest galaxies,” said Sean Domagal-Goldman, acting director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Domagal-Goldman added that the discovery will lay the groundwork for future research in this largely unexplored, nebulous region and create additional opportunities for scientists seeking to understand dark matter, explore life elsewhere in the solar system, or find Earth-like planets.
“The questions Webb poses are as fascinating as the answers he gives us,” he added.
The discovery of Toe's bob will also allow researchers to further study the turbulent process of cloud and star formation.
Sourse: www.upi.com
