                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

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                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2022 September 5

                 Carina Cliffs from the Webb Space Telescope
                     Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

   Explanation: Stars created these cliffs. Specifically, the destructive
   winds and energetic light from the stars in the open cluster NGC 3324
   eroded away part of a mountain of dark interstellar dust in the
   northern part of the Carina Nebula. Several of these stars are visible
   toward the top of this highly detailed image taken recently by the
   James Webb Space Telescope, the largest astronomical telescope ever
   launched. Webb's large mirror and ability to see dust-piercing infrared
   light has enabled it to capture fascinating details in the dust,
   hundreds of previously hidden stars, and even some galaxies far in the
   distance. The featured jagged cliffs occur in part of Carina known as
   the Gabriela Mistral Nebula -- because when viewed in another
   orientation, they appear similar to the facial profile of the famous
   Chilean poet. These nebular cliffs occur about 7,600 light years away
   toward the southern constellation of Carina.

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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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