Pictured are JWST, Hubble, Chandra, and Swift space telescopes (Image source: NASA; edited)
Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope, and Hubble Space Telescope are combined to produce an eye-catching view of a young neighbor, Westerlund 1. The image could help astronomers understand more about star formation in the region.
Westerlund 1 is a young star cluster located about 12,000 light-years away in the southern constellation Ara (the Altar). It has an estimated total mass of between 50,000 and 100,000 solar masses. As such, it is classified as a “super star cluster.”
Super star clusters are young star clusters that contain tens of thousands of stars tightly packed together. Westerlund 1 is one of the biggest super star cluster in the Milky Way — and also the closest to Earth.
This new image of Westerlund 1 features X-ray data from Chandra, infrared data from Webb, and optical data from Hubble. Chandra’s data is observed in pink, blue, purple, and orange. Webb’s infrared data is shown in yellow, gold, and blue. Hubble’s data appears in cyan, gray, and light yellow.
The image shows countless stars in the cluster. There are the brighter and more massive ones. There are also smaller stars scattered around, appearing as tiny specks. In the surroundings is purple haze, which represents hot, high-energy gas.
Mottled golden clouds are also present in the surroundings. This represents cooler dust and gas where new stars are formed.
This image was released on July 23, 2025. It is part of a new collection of images that features data from Chandra along with a host of other telescopes.
The image of Westerlund 1 as captured by JWST, Hubble, and Chandra (Image source: several – see sources)
Chibuike Okpara – Tech Writer – 216 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024
I have always been fascinated by technology and digital devices my entire life and even got addicted to it. I have always marveled at the intricacy of even the simplest digital devices and systems around us. I have been writing and publishing articles online for about 6 years now, just about a year ago, I found myself lost in the marvel of smartphones and laptops we have in our hands every day. I developed a passion for learning about new devices and technologies that come with them and at some point, I asked myself, “Why not get into writing tech articles?” It is useless to say I followed up the idea — it is evident. I am an open-minded individual who derives an infinite amount of joy from researching and discovering new information, I believe there is so much to learn and such a short life to live, so I put my time to good use — learning new things. I am a ‘bookworm’ of the internet and digital devices. When I am not writing, you will find me on my devices still, I do explore and admire the beauty of nature and creatures. I am a fast learner and quickly adapt to changes, always looking forward to new adventures.