James Webb Telescope Reveals Massive Westerlund 1 Super Star Cluster Hidden in Milky Way’s Dust

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has given astronomers the clearest view of Westerlund 1, the most important younger star cluster within the Milky Way. Previously obscured by interstellar fuel and mud, this colossal stellar nursery has now been captured in exceptional element, showcasing a unprecedented cluster of stars. Located about 12,000 light-years away within the constellation Ara, Westerlund 1 is thought for its immense dimension and the sheer variety of huge stars it comprises. Some stars listed here are 2,000 occasions bigger than the Sun, and in the event that they have been inside our photo voltaic system, they’d prolong to Saturn’s orbit.

A Cluster Like No Other

Westerlund 1 shouldn’t be an extraordinary star cluster; it’s a ‘tremendous star cluster,’ far surpassing the mass of most clusters within the Milky Way. With a mass between 50,000 to 100,000 occasions that of the Sun, it dwarfs most different clusters, which usually weigh in at about 10,000 photo voltaic plenty. Many stars in Westerlund 1 are shining one million occasions brighter than the Sun, making it a real galactic large. If Earth orbited a star in Westerlund 1, the night time sky could be illuminated by tons of of stars as bright as the total moon.

Future Supernovae and JWST’s Unique Capabilities

Astronomers predict that greater than 1,500 supernovae will mild up Westerlund 1 within the subsequent 40 million years. Currently, the cluster is simply 3.5 to five million years outdated. The JWST was in a position to seize this hidden marvel as a result of its Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) can see via the fuel and mud that blocks optical telescopes like Hubble. This potential permits scientists to review these huge stars and acquire insights into the Milky Way’s historical past.