Shining Star Cluster: The Wonders of Pismis 24

Quick Summary

• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released an image showcasing Pismis 24, a young star cluster in the Lobster Nebula, located about 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.
• The region is a vibrant stellar nursery adn serves as one of the closest sites for studying massive star formation and evolution.
• Captured using Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera),the image shows thousands of stars varying in size and color.The brightest stars with six-point diffraction spikes are the most massive members of Pismis 24. smaller stars appear in hues of white,yellow,and red depending on their type and amount of dust around them.
• Tens of thousands of background stars belonging to the Milky Way galaxy can also be seen beyond this cluster.

Indian Opinion Analysis
India has been steadily increasing its engagement with space science through collaboration with international programs and advancements in domestic research capacity such as ISRO missions like Chandrayaan or Aditya-L1. Observations from NASA’s James Webb Telescope complement these efforts by offering detailed insights into cosmic phenomena-data that could benefit astrophysics research globally, including Indian experts working to understand star birth patterns or galactic processes closer to home.

While India may not directly participate in projects like James Webb at present, cultivating stronger international collaborations could amplify benefits for India’s space research programs aimed at decoding mysteries related to galaxy formation or stellar evolution-a field aligning closely with long-term goals for scientific understanding set by Indian institutions.

Read More: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/shining-pismis-24/