Exploring the Cosmic Cliffs in 3D

In July 2022, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope made its public debut with a series of breathtaking images. Among them was an ethereal landscape nicknamed the Cosmic Cliffs. This glittering, star-forming region is the subject of a new 3D visualization derived from Webb data. The visualization, created by NASA’s Universe of Learning, breathes new life into an iconic Webb image.

The landscape of “mountains” and “valleys” known as the Cosmic Cliffs is actually a portion of the nebula Gum 31, which contains a young star cluster called NGC 3324. Both Gum 31 and NGC 3324 are part of a vast star-forming region known as the Carina Nebula Complex. Ultraviolet light and stellar winds from the stars of NGC 3324 have carved out a cavernous area within Gum 31. (The star cluster itself is outside this field of view.) The Cliffs also display a misty appearance, with “steam” that seems to rise from the nebula's undulating clouds. These wisps are actually hot, ionized gas and dust streaming away from the nebula under an onslaught of relentless ultraviolet radiation.

for more information visit: Webb Space Telescope