#pismis 24

[spacewonder19]

Cathedral to Massive Stars Pismis 24 ©

[zespaceblog]

NGC 6357 - Lobster Nebula

This image is the centre of the nebula, and a look towards the cluster of young stars Pismis 24. Not just young, but some of the largest stars ever found to exist. The extreme radiation emitted by these stars lights up the nebula and creates strong particle winds (like our own solar winds) that sculpt the nebula's shape.

The brightest star in the cluster Pismis 24-1 was once thought to be 300 times more massive than our own Sun, breaking theory of the size of stars by some way, however it later was resolved into two separate O3 and O4 components, and returning them into the upper end of star size.

[chibinotan]

Angular Nebula

[mckitterick]

Baby Stars Set Cradle on Fire

The young blue stars of cluster Pismis 24 ionize the core of emission nebula NGC 6357 (the Lobster Nebula) in Scorpius, setting it alight. Intense ultraviolet radiation blazing from the supermassive star near the bottom of this photo creates a glowing bubble in the vast nebula where these babies were born.

NASA source: X

[cosmicvastness]

NGC 6357: The Lobster Nebula 

Explanation: Why is the Lobster Nebula forming some of the most massive stars known? No one is yet sure. Cataloged as NGC 6357, the Lobster Nebula houses the open star cluster Pismis 24 near its center -- a home to unusually bright and massive stars. The overall blue glow near the inner star forming region results from the emission of ionized hydrogen gas. The surrounding nebula, featured here, holds a complex tapestry of gas, dark dust, stars still forming, and newly born stars. The intricate patterns are caused by complex interactions between interstellar winds, radiation pressures, magnetic fields, and gravity. NGC 6357 spans about 400 light years and lies about 8,000 light years away toward the constellation of the Scorpion.

Credit: Dean Carr

[spacewonder19]

Beautiful Star Birth in Pismis 24 © JWST

[spacewonder19]

Sparkling star birth in Pismis 24 © JWST

[chibinotan]

Double Star Close-Up