In July 2022, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope debuted in public with a series of breathtaking images. Among them is an ethereal landscape nicknamed the Cliff of the Universe. The glittering realm of star birth is the subject of new 3D visualizations obtained from Webb data. Created by NASA's learning universe, titled "Exploring the Cliffs of the Universe in 3D," the visualization calls new life into the iconic Weber image.
It was introduced today at a special event held by the International Planetarium Association to commemorate the 100Th Anniversary of the First Public Planetarium in Munich, Germany.
The landscape called the "mountain ranges" and "valleys" are actually part of Nebula 31, which contains a group of young stars called NGC 3324. Gum 31 and NGC 3324 are both part of a wide star-shaped area called Carina Nebula Nebula Nebula Complex.
NGC 3324 UV rays and stellar winds from stars carved a sponge-like area in gums 31. Above the cosmic cliff, I saw part of this huge bubble. (The cluster itself is not out of this field of view.)
The appearance of the cliff shows a misty appearance, and the "steam" seems to rise from the Celestial Mountain. In fact, under the ruthless ultraviolet radiation, WISP is heat, ionized gases and dust flowing out of the nebula.
Hawkeye viewers may also find particularly bright yellow stripes and arcs representing the young embedded in the cliffs of the universe, still flowing out of the stars formed. The second half of the visualization sequence exceeds the prominent protostar jet in the upper right of the image.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFAZEXHBPSA[/embed]
This glittering landscape is captured incredible detail and is part of Nebula Glue 31, a small part of the huge Karina Nebula complex – amid clouds of gas and dust, stars are born.
This visualization brings Weber’s iconic image to life – helping us imagine the real three-dimensional structure of the universe and where we are.
The visualization was produced by NASA's Astroviz Project by Space Telescope Science Institute (STSCI) with partners for NASA, and this visualization is part of a longer, narrative video that provides a wide audience, including youth, family and Lifelong learners, and is associated with NASA's Astrophyssssics' science and scientists. The video enables viewers to explore fundamental problems in science, experience how science is done, and discover the universe on their own.
“Taking this amazing Weber image to life helps the public understand the three-dimensional structure inherent in 2D images and develop better cosmic mental models,” said Frank Summers, lead visual scientist and leader of the Astroviz project.
More visualization and connections between Nebulas and learner science can be explored through other products produced by NASA's Learning Universe, including Carina Nebula Complex Resource Page and Viewspace, a video exhibition that is currently running at nearly 200 museums and planets across the United States. Visitors can go beyond videos to explore images with space telescopes and use interactive tools now available for museums and planetariums.
NASA's Learning Materials Universe is based on work supported by NASA under the reward number NNX16AC65A and in partnership with the Center for Astrophysics Caltech/IPAC | Harvard and Smithsonians and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the world's leading space science observatory. Weber is solving the mysteries in our solar system, transcending the distant world around other stars, and exploring the mysterious structure and origin of our universe and where we are. Weber is an international program of NASA and its partners ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Space Canada).
NASA's world of learning is part of the NASA Science Activation Program at the Science Mission Bureau at NASA Headquarters. The Science Activation Program connects NASA science experts, authentic content and experience with community leaders to activate ideas and promote a deeper understanding of our world and beyond. NASA's learning universe utilizes a direct connection with the experts behind science and science, providing resources and experiences that enable young people, families and lifelong learners to explore fundamental issues in science, experience how science completes science and discovers the universe for themselves.
To learn more about Webb, visit:
View/Download all image products on all resolutions For this article by the Institute of Space Telescope Science.
Laura Betz -laura.e.betz@nasa.gov
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.
Christine Chicken -cpulliam@stsci.edu
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD.
Explore more: NASA's Carina Nebula Complex Learning Universe
Read more: Weber's view of the cliff of the universe
listen: Carina Nebula Cable
Read more: Weber's star formation discovery
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