Oddbean new post about login | logout These types of stars are B-types and O-types, the latter of which can be more than 100 times the mass of our own Sun. It’s quite rare to find this concentration of them in the nearby universe. In fact, there’s no similar region within our own Milky Way galaxy. (3/6)
In Webb’s near-infrared NIRCam image, the most noticeable features are tendrils and clumps of emission that appear bright red, extending out from areas that look like clearings, or large bubbles in the nebula. (4/6) https://cdn.masto.host/astrodonsocial/media_attachments/files/112/083/599/910/078/942/original/5008cfa8afb4fe2e.jpg
In the MIRI view of NGC 604, there are noticeably fewer stars. This is because hot stars emit much less light at these wavelengths, while the larger clouds of cooler gas and dust glow. Some of the stars seen here, belonging to the surrounding galaxy, are red supergiants. (5/6) https://cdn.masto.host/astrodonsocial/media_attachments/files/112/083/602/144/532/015/original/5a6c679191ef262c.png
This concentration of massive stars, combined with its relatively close distance, means NGC 604 gives astronomers an opportunity to study these objects at a fascinating time early in their life. (6/6) https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2024/news-2024-110
