Star Cluster Westerlund 2 in Carina | Webb Telescope+Chandra X-ray Observatory

Star Cluster Westerlund 2 in Carina | Webb Telescope+Chandra X-ray Observatory

This image of Westerlund 2 features Chandra X-ray Observatory data (pink) and James Webb infrared data (red, orange, green, cyan, and blue). Scores of gleaming stars ringed in neon pink stretch across the frame, highlighting a cluster where stars are between one and three million years old. Brick-orange dust clouds along the bottom edge illustrate the raw materials of this active stellar nursery.

The cluster measures between 6 light-years and 13 light-years across, and is host to examples of our Milky Way galaxy's hottest, brightest, and most massive stars.

Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/Sejong Univ./Hur et al; JWST: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, V. Almendros-Abad, M. Guarcello, K. Monsch, and the EWOCS team

Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare and K. Arcand
Release Date: May 15, 2026

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