Star-forming nebula

This recent image, taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, shows an unusual star-forming nebula inside the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way. This particular formation, known as NCG 346, is some 200,000 light years from us. It is composed mostly of the two most primitive elements: hydrogen and helium. Because of this, it is producing stars much more actively than is normal for present-day galaxies. Astronomers suggest all galaxies were like this about 10 billion years ago, before stars had time to churn out heavier elements through nuclear fusion.

Jeffrey (jmishlove@newthinkingallowed.com)

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