Celestial Marvel: Exploring the Radiance of Pismis 24

Quick summary

• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured an image of the star cluster pismis 24 within the lobster Nebula, located about 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.
• The region is a vibrant stellar nursery and one of the closest sites of massive star formation.
• The photo was taken using Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and showcases thousands of stars varying in size, colour, and brightness.
• Larger and most brilliant stars in the image display six-point diffraction spikes,while smaller white,yellow,and red stars are influenced by thier stellar type or surrounding dust.
• Tens of thousands of background stars from the Milky Way galaxy can also be seen behind Pismis 24.

Image Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI
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Indian Opinion Analysis

The detailed imaging capabilities demonstrated by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope set a new benchmark for observing distant astronomical phenomena. For India-a nation building its reputation in space exploration with initiatives such as Chandrayaan missions-global discoveries like those seen with Pismis 24 underscore collaboration opportunities. Insights into massive star formation could inform astrophysical research across nations and inspire educational efforts to foster interest in astronomy among India’s youth. By engaging more actively with projects under agencies like NASA or through ISRO-led collaborations with international partners, India can position itself at the forefront of scientific inquiry into cosmic evolution.