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New images from the James Webb Space Telescope look deep into universe

David Baratz
USA TODAY
This handout image from the James Webb Space Telescope released by NASA/ESA/CSA on May 9, 2023, shows for the first time the inner asteroid belts that encircle the nearby star Fomalhaut. The dusty debris disc surrounding the young star Fomalhaut is from Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). It reveals three nested belts extending out to 23 billion kilometres from the star. The inner belts which had never been seen before were revealed by Webb for the first time.
This handout image from the James Webb Space Telescope released by NASA/ESA/CSA on May 9, 2023, shows for the first time the inner asteroid belts that encircle the nearby star Fomalhaut. The dusty debris disc surrounding the young star Fomalhaut is from Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). It reveals three nested belts extending out to 23 billion kilometres from the star. The inner belts which had never been seen before were revealed by Webb for the first time.
HANDOUT, NASA/ESA/CSA/AFP Via Getty Images
The explosion of a star is a dramatic event, but the remains that the star leaves behind can be even more dramatic. A new mid-infrared image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope provides one stunning example. It shows the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A), created by a stellar explosion 340 years ago. The image displays vivid colors and intricate structures begging to be examined more closely. Cas A is the youngest known remnant from an exploding, massive star in our galaxy, offering astronomers an opportunity to perform stellar forensics to understand the star’s death.
The explosion of a star is a dramatic event, but the remains that the star leaves behind can be even more dramatic. A new mid-infrared image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope provides one stunning example. It shows the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A), created by a stellar explosion 340 years ago. The image displays vivid colors and intricate structures begging to be examined more closely. Cas A is the youngest known remnant from an exploding, massive star in our galaxy, offering astronomers an opportunity to perform stellar forensics to understand the star’s death.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, D. Milisavljevic (Purdue), T. Temim (Princeton), I. De Looze (Ghent University), J. DePasquale (STScI)
This handout image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope taken in 2022 and released by NASA on March 15, 2023 shows the Wolf-Rayet star WR 124. A distinctive halo of gas and dust frames the star and glows in the infrared light detected by Webb, displaying knotty structure and a history of episodic ejections. Despite being the scene of an impending stellar death, astronomers also look to Wolf-Rayet stars for insight into new beginnings. Cosmic dust is forming in the turbulent nebulas surrounding these stars, dust that is composed of the heavy-element building blocks of the modern Universe, including life on Earth.
This handout image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope taken in 2022 and released by NASA on March 15, 2023 shows the Wolf-Rayet star WR 124. A distinctive halo of gas and dust frames the star and glows in the infrared light detected by Webb, displaying knotty structure and a history of episodic ejections. Despite being the scene of an impending stellar death, astronomers also look to Wolf-Rayet stars for insight into new beginnings. Cosmic dust is forming in the turbulent nebulas surrounding these stars, dust that is composed of the heavy-element building blocks of the modern Universe, including life on Earth.
NASA/ESA/AFP Via Getty Images
NGC 346, shown here in this image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), is a dynamic star cluster that lies within a nebula 200,000 light years away. Webb reveals the presence of many more building blocks than previously expected, not only for stars, but also planets, in the form of clouds packed with dust and hydrogen.
NGC 346, shown here in this image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), is a dynamic star cluster that lies within a nebula 200,000 light years away. Webb reveals the presence of many more building blocks than previously expected, not only for stars, but also planets, in the form of clouds packed with dust and hydrogen.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: STScI/J. DePasquale
The Pillars of Creation are set off in a kaleidoscope of color in NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared-light view. The pillars look like arches and spires rising out of a desert landscape but are filled with semi-transparent gas and dust, and are ever-changing. This region is where young stars are forming – or have barely burst from their dusty cocoons as they continue to form. Newly formed stars are the scene-stealers in this Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) image. These are the bright red orbs that sometimes appear with eight diffraction spikes. When knots with sufficient mass form within the pillars, they begin to collapse under their gravity, slowly heat up, and eventually begin shining brightly.
The Pillars of Creation are set off in a kaleidoscope of color in NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared-light view. The pillars look like arches and spires rising out of a desert landscape but are filled with semi-transparent gas and dust, and are ever-changing. This region is where young stars are forming – or have barely burst from their dusty cocoons as they continue to form. Newly formed stars are the scene-stealers in this Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) image. These are the bright red orbs that sometimes appear with eight diffraction spikes. When knots with sufficient mass form within the pillars, they begin to collapse under their gravity, slowly heat up, and eventually begin shining brightly.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI Via AP
Shells of cosmic dust created by the interaction of binary stars appear like tree rings around Wolf-Rayet 140. The remarkable regularity of the shells’ spacing indicates that they form like clockwork during the stars’ eight-year orbit cycle, when the two members of the binary make their closest approach to one another.
Shells of cosmic dust created by the interaction of binary stars appear like tree rings around Wolf-Rayet 140. The remarkable regularity of the shells’ spacing indicates that they form like clockwork during the stars’ eight-year orbit cycle, when the two members of the binary make their closest approach to one another.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: STScI/J. DePasquale
This image of the spiral galaxy IC 5332, taken by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope with its MIRI instrument.
This image of the spiral galaxy IC 5332, taken by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope with its MIRI instrument.
ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee And The PHANGS-JWST And PHANGS-HST Teams
This handout image released by ESA, NASA, CSA, and Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) shows its first image of Neptune. Webb has captured the clearest view of this peculiar planet ’ s rings in more than 30 years, and its cameras also reveal the ice giant in a new light. This first image of Neptune reveals several key features of the ice giant ’ s atmosphere only visible in the infrared. A series of bright patches representing methane-ice clouds are most prominent in the image. These clouds are high in the atmosphere and reflect the sun ’ s bright light. Images from other observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope and the W.M. Keck Observatory, have recorded these rich, moving features.
This handout image released by ESA, NASA, CSA, and Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) shows its first image of Neptune.  Webb has captured the clearest view of this peculiar planet’s rings in more than 30 years, and its cameras also reveal the ice giant in a new light. This first image of Neptune reveals several key features of the ice giant’s atmosphere only visible in the infrared. A series of bright patches representing methane-ice clouds are most prominent in the image. These clouds are high in the atmosphere and reflect the sun’s bright light. Images from other observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope and the W.M. Keck Observatory, have recorded these rich, moving features.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: STScI/J. DePasquale
This handout image released by ESA, NASA, CSA, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) shows a mosaic image stretching 340 light-years across, captured with the James Webb Space Telescopes Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), displaying the Tarantula Nebula star-forming region in a new light, including tens of thousands of never-before-seen young stars that were previously shrouded in cosmic dust. The most active region appears to sparkle with massive young stars, appearing pale blue. Scattered among them are still-embedded stars, appearing red, yet to emerge from the dusty cocoon of the nebula.
This handout image released by ESA, NASA, CSA, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) shows a mosaic image stretching 340 light-years across, captured with the James Webb Space Telescopes Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), displaying the Tarantula Nebula star-forming region in a new light, including tens of thousands of never-before-seen young stars that were previously shrouded in cosmic dust. The most active region appears to sparkle with massive young stars, appearing pale blue. Scattered among them are still-embedded stars, appearing red, yet to emerge from the dusty cocoon of the nebula.
ESA, NASA, CSA, STScI, AFP Via Getty Images
This composite picture released by NASA/ESA on Aug. 30, 2022 from the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope shows the heart of M74, otherwise known as the Phantom Galaxy. -M74, a spiral galaxy 32 million light-years away, is composed of about 100 billion stars.
This composite picture released by NASA/ESA on Aug. 30, 2022 from the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope shows the heart of M74, otherwise known as the Phantom Galaxy. -M74, a spiral galaxy 32 million light-years away, is composed of about 100 billion stars.
HANDOUT, NASA/ESA/AFP Via Getty Images
This image from Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) shows a group of galaxies, including a large distorted ring-shaped galaxy known as the Cartwheel. The Cartwheel Galaxy, located 500 million light-years away in the Sculptor constellation, is composed of a bright inner ring and an active outer ring. While this outer ring has a lot of star formation, the dusty area in between reveals many stars and star clusters.
This image from Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) shows a group of galaxies, including a large distorted ring-shaped galaxy known as the Cartwheel. The Cartwheel Galaxy, located 500 million light-years away in the Sculptor constellation, is composed of a bright inner ring and an active outer ring. While this outer ring has a lot of star formation, the dusty area in between reveals many stars and star clusters.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team
What looks much like craggy mountains on a moonlit evening is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. Captured in infrared light by the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals previously obscured areas of star birth.
What looks much like craggy mountains on a moonlit evening is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. Captured in infrared light by the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals previously obscured areas of star birth.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team
This image provided by NASA on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, shows Stephan's Quintet, a visual grouping of five galaxies, as observed from the Webb Telescope. This mosaic was constructed from almost 1,000 separate image files, according to NASA.
This image provided by NASA on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, shows Stephan's Quintet, a visual grouping of five galaxies, as observed from the Webb Telescope. This mosaic was constructed from almost 1,000 separate image files, according to NASA.
NASA, ESA, CSA, And STScI Via AP
Image of a group of four galaxies that appear close to each other in the sky: two in the middle, one toward the top, one to the upper left. In addition, there is a large bright patch toward the right.
Image of a group of four galaxies that appear close to each other in the sky: two in the middle, one toward the top, one to the upper left. In addition, there is a large bright patch toward the right.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team
NASA's Webb telescope observed the Southern Ring Nebula in near-infrared light, left, and mid-infrared light.
NASA's Webb telescope observed the Southern Ring Nebula in near-infrared light, left, and mid-infrared light.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team
The bright star at the center of NGC 3132, while prominent when viewed by NASA's Webb Telescope in near-infrared light, plays a supporting role in sculpting the surrounding nebula. A second star, barely visible at lower left along one of the bright starÕ's diffraction spikes, is the nebula's source. It has ejected at least eight layers of gas and dust over thousands of years.
The bright star at the center of NGC 3132, while prominent when viewed by NASA's Webb Telescope in near-infrared light, plays a supporting role in sculpting the surrounding nebula. A second star, barely visible at lower left along one of the bright starÕ's diffraction spikes, is the nebula's source. It has ejected at least eight layers of gas and dust over thousands of years.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team
NASA's Webb Telescope has revealed the cloak of dust around the second star, shown at left in red, at the center of the Southern Ring Nebula for the first time. It is a hot, dense white dwarf star.
NASA's Webb Telescope has revealed the cloak of dust around the second star, shown at left in red, at the center of the Southern Ring Nebula for the first time. It is a hot, dense white dwarf star.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team
This side-by-side image released by NASA on July 12, 2022 compares near and mid-infrared wavelengths of light that have been translated into visible-light colors. The images are some of the first take by the James Webb Space Telescope.
This side-by-side image released by NASA on July 12, 2022 compares near and mid-infrared wavelengths of light that have been translated into visible-light colors. The images are some of the first take by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Space Telescope Science Institute Office Of Public Outreach, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team
This image provided by NASA on Monday, July 11, 2022, shows galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope is designed to peer back so far that scientists can get a glimpse of the dawn of the universe about 13.7 billion years ago and zoom in on closer cosmic objects, even our own solar system, with sharper focus.
This image provided by NASA on Monday, July 11, 2022, shows galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope is designed to peer back so far that scientists can get a glimpse of the dawn of the universe about 13.7 billion years ago and zoom in on closer cosmic objects, even our own solar system, with sharper focus.
NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI Via AP
This 2015 artist's rendering provided by Northrop Grumman via NASA shows the James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope is designed to peer back so far that scientists will get a glimpse of the dawn of the universe about 13.7 billion years ago and zoom in on closer cosmic objects, even our own solar system, with sharper focus.
This 2015 artist's rendering provided by Northrop Grumman via NASA shows the James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope is designed to peer back so far that scientists will get a glimpse of the dawn of the universe about 13.7 billion years ago and zoom in on closer cosmic objects, even our own solar system, with sharper focus.
Handout, Northrop Grumman/NASA Via AP
Technicians use a crane to lift the mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., on April 13, 2017. The telescope is designed to peer back so far that scientists will get a glimpse of the dawn of the universe about 13.7 billion years ago and zoom in on closer cosmic objects, even our own solar system, with sharper focus.
Technicians use a crane to lift the mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., on April 13, 2017. The telescope is designed to peer back so far that scientists will get a glimpse of the dawn of the universe about 13.7 billion years ago and zoom in on closer cosmic objects, even our own solar system, with sharper focus.
Laura Betz/NASA Via AP
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris preview the first infrared image from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) during a briefing from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officials in the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 11, 2022.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris preview the first infrared image from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) during a briefing from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officials in the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 11, 2022.
NICHOLAS KAMM, AFP Via Getty Images
In this still picture from a NASA TV broadcast, the James Webb Space Telescope separates from Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket on Dec. 25, 2021 after launching from Europes Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.
In this still picture from a NASA TV broadcast, the James Webb Space Telescope separates from Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket on Dec. 25, 2021 after launching from Europes Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.
NASA TV/AFP Via Getty Images
In this image provided by NASA, the James Webb Space Telescope is released into space from an Ariane rocket on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021.
In this image provided by NASA, the James Webb Space Telescope is released into space from an Ariane rocket on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021.
NASA Via AP
This March 5, 2020, photo made available by NASA shows the main mirror assembly of the James Webb Space Telescope during testing at a Northrop Grumman facility in Redondo Beach, Calif.
This March 5, 2020, photo made available by NASA shows the main mirror assembly of the James Webb Space Telescope during testing at a Northrop Grumman facility in Redondo Beach, Calif.
Chris Gunn, NASA Via AP