Webb Image Reveals Star Formation in N159
A James Webb Space Telescope view shows N159, a star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud about 161,000 light-years from Earth.
FlyMarshall Newsroom1 min read
Photo: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, E. Sabbi, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb)Acknowledgement: M. H. Özsaraç
A James Webb Space Telescope image features N159, a star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.
Key details
- N159 spans about 230 light-years and is estimated to be less than 3 million years old.
- The region contains ionized hydrogen and molecular hydrogen.
- Radiation from nearby stars ionizes hydrogen, while stellar winds have shaped the region.
- N159 has lower metallicity than star-forming regions in the Milky Way.
N159 spans about 230 light-years in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
Why it matters
Webb observations of N159 can help astronomers compare stars at different stages of development, including pre-main-sequence stars that still gather material.
What happens next
Further study of N159 can help astronomers examine how stars form in a neighboring galaxy. Which Webb images would you like to see explored next?
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