A horse-shaped nebula gets its close-up in new photos by NASA’s Webb telescope

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled the most detailed images yet of a section of the iconic Horsehead Nebula, located in the Orion constellation and situated approximately 1,300 light-years away from Earth. These new images offer a closer look at the “mane” of the nebula, showcasing intricate details previously unseen.

The Horsehead Nebula, named for its distinctive resemblance to a horse’s head, has captivated astronomers since its discovery over a century ago. Its striking appearance is characterized by a pillar of gas and dust, serving as a stellar nursery where massive stars are born.

The latest images from the Webb Telescope, captured in infrared, illuminate clouds of hydrogen molecules and soot-like chemicals within the nebula. These high-resolution images provide valuable insights into the structure and composition of the Horsehead Nebula, contributing to our understanding of stellar formation processes.

While the Horsehead Nebula has been a popular target for space observatories like the Hubble Space Telescope in the past, Webb’s infrared capabilities offer a unique perspective, unveiling previously unseen details of this cosmic wonder. Last year, the European space telescope Euclid also contributed fresh images of the nebula, further enriching our understanding of its complex dynamics and composition.

Source – CGTN