A stunning new observation from the James Webb Space Telescope reveals a thriving area of star formation located at the far reaches of the Milky Way. Dubbed the Extreme Outer Galaxy, this section is situated 58,000 light-years from the galactic center, more than twice the distance of our solar system from this central point.
Utilizing Webb’s powerful NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), scientists captured the region in breathtaking detail, uncovering molecular structures known as Digel Clouds 1 and 2. These clouds are rich in hydrogen, the essential ingredient for new star formation.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, M. Ressler (NASA-JPL)
“Previously, we were aware of these star-forming areas but lacked the ability to thoroughly investigate their characteristics,” stated lead researcher Natsuko Izumi from Gifu University. “The data from Webb enhances previous observations collected over the years with other telescopes, allowing us to capture impressive images of these clouds. For Digel Cloud 2, the extent of star formation and the remarkable jets we observed were unexpected surprises.”
While these clouds are part of our galaxy, they are significantly low in heavy elements, containing mostly hydrogen and helium. This composition makes them increasingly similar to smaller dwarf galaxies or to the early Milky Way, making these regions valuable for studying star formation and gaining insights into how stars may have come into existence in the early universe. Their uniqueness is highlighted by the jets of material produced by young stars, which are ejected at remarkable speeds.
“Research into other nearby star-forming regions has shown that during the early phases of their existence, stars emit jets of material from their poles,” noted Mike Ressler from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “What struck me as extraordinary from the Webb data was the presence of multiple jets shooting in various directions from this star cluster, resembling a firecracker’s explosion with streams radiating outward.”
The research team plans to gather further data from other remote areas of the Milky Way to delve deeper into the star formation processes within these distinctive conditions.
“I’m keen on continuing our exploration of star formation in these locales. By synthesizing information from various observatories and telescopes, we can investigate each phase of the evolutionary process,” Izumi expressed. “Moreover, we aim to study circumstellar disks found within the Extreme Outer Galaxy, as we still do not fully understand why their lifespans are shorter compared to regions closer to Earth. I am particularly interested in analyzing the kinematics of the jets identified in Cloud 2S.”
The findings of this research will be published in the Astronomical Journal.