Celestial Marvel: Exploring the Wonders of Pismis 24

Quick Summary:

• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released an image on Sept. 4, 2025, showcasing the Pismis 24 star cluster within the Lobster nebula.
• Located in the constellation Scorpius, approximately 5,500 light-years away from Earth, Pismis 24 serves as a vibrant stellar nursery and features massive star formation.
• The image captured with Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) reveals thousands of stars of various sizes and colors in infrared light.
• Larger stars with six-point diffraction spikes are identified as massive stars in the cluster surrounded by smaller white, yellow, and red stars based on their type and amount of dust covering them.
• Tens of thousands of background Milky Way galaxy stars are visible beyond the cluster.

Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The new infrared images from NASA’s James webb Space Telescope highlight not only advancements in astronomical research but also its potential inspiration for India’s growing space achievements. With initiatives like ISRO’s focus on deep space missions-evident thru Chandrayaan successes-these global discoveries serve to enrich international collaboration opportunities. By investigating massive star formations such as those found in Pismis 24 through similar technologies or joint campaigns with agencies like NASA or ESA (European Space Agency), India’s academic and scientific communities might further bolster their contributions to astrophysical research. Such studies help unravel global phenomena while positioning nations at key scientific frontiers.

Read More