Webb and Hubble’s views of Westerlund 2
These images showcase the star cluster known as Westerlund 2, which resides in a stellar breeding ground known as Gum 29, located 20,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Carina. The cluster measures between 6 light-years and 13 light-years across, and is host to some of our Milky Way galaxy's hottest, brightest, and most massive stars.
This image on the left uses data from Webb’s Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI). The image on the right showcases a portion of the Hubble image of this same region, which was featured as Hubble’s 25th anniversary image in 2015.
Links
- Pan video: Westerlund 2 (NIRCam and MIRI image)
- Transition video: Webb and Hubble’s views of Westerlund 2
- Webb image of Westerlund 2
NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), A. Nota (ESA/STScI), and the Westerlund 2 Science Team, ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, V. Almendros-Abad, M. Guarcello, K. Monsch, and the EWOCS team.
About the Images
| Id: | potm2512 | |
|---|---|---|
| Release date: | 19 December 2025, 10:00 | |
