A Massive Cluster is Born (N79)

Nebula N79 is a massive star-forming region, spanning roughly 1,630 light-years, within the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. Captured using Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), glowing gas and dust are revealed deep within the clouds, while embedded baby stars shine through. N79 produces stars at a furious rate, much faster than star-forming regions found in our own galaxy. The nebula’s chemical composition is similar to that of the early universe, when star formation was at its peak. The vivid rays resembling sunlight are actually diffraction spikes from a bright star. Most noticeable in bright, compact objects, diffraction spikes are somewhat like a telescope’s “signature.” The eight-point pattern is the result of the telescope’s hexagonal mirror design combined with its secondary mirror struts.