"All across our galactic plane, new stars are currently forming. Dense clouds of gas, under gravitation's relentless influence, contract, triggering star-formation. One such location, 5500 light-years away, is the magnificent Lobster Nebula: NGC 6357. In visible light, it's illuminated by copious populations of young, massive stars. Hubble's views spectacularly revealed many massive stars in Pismis 24. Some stars approach 100 solar masses: among the most massive ever identified."
"Then in September of 2025, JWST unveiled Pismis 24 in infrared light. Comparing the two views, numerous impressive features immediately pop out. Enormous numbers of new stars appear, unextincted by dust at infrared wavelengths. White, wispy dust and gas clouds reflect the light from surrounding stars. The light blue haze indicates heated, even ionized hydrogen gas: invisible to Hubble's eyes."
New stars are forming across the galactic plane as dense gas clouds collapse under gravity. The Lobster Nebula (NGC 6357), 5500 light-years away, hosts the rich cluster Pismis 24 with some stars nearing 100 solar masses. Hubble visible-light images show massive, young stars; JWST infrared imaging reveals many more stars through dust, highlights white wispy dust reflection, a light-blue haze of heated and ionized hydrogen, and orange emission from tiny heated dust particles. Gas streamers are blown out by intense stellar winds. Dense red and black regions mark the most gas-rich star-forming cores.
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