The Rho Ophiuch Stellar Nursery Canvas Print

The Rho Ophiuchi stellar nursery is seen in stunning detail by the James Webb Space Telescope in an image released to celebrate a year of observations from the powerful space telescope on July 12. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI)) In the image, it is possible to see jets bursting from some of the 50 or so young stars in the stellar nursery impacting surrounding interstellar gas and causing molecular hydrogen to glow red. These occur as the young stars are ripping free of their natal cocoons comprised of what remains of the gas and dust that formed them. This makes the bright jets almost equivalent to a newborn baby stretching its arms for the very first time.