James Webb Space Telescope reveals thick cosmic dust of Sagittarius B2, the most most enormous star-forming cloud in the Milky Way — Space photo of the week
Rapid facts
What is: Sagittarius B2 (SGR B2) molecular cloud
Where is it: 25,000 light years of the earth in the sagittarius constellation
When it was shared: September 24, 2025
Why it’s so special: Stars in the Milky Way The galaxy is born in huge molecular clouds. The most massive is the Sagittarius B2, which is only a few hundred-light years of our central black hole in the galaxy (called sagittarius a *). This black hole is much more generous than you think first – it has 10% of the Galactic Center gas, but represents about half of the formation of stars in the region. Why the training of stars is so disproportionate in the region of the Galactic Center is an enigma for scientists.
THE Miri image is entirely different, revealing the dust clouds in the region illuminated by its stars. It shows pink and purple clouds surrounded by very dark regions dotted with stars. The JWST cannot see everything:. Even his infrared vision cannot penetrate the densest clouds, which remain dark and opaque in the Miri image. In these regions, hidden in sight, are the raw ingredients of the stars.
Why the Sagittarius B2 is so much more productive than the rest of the galactic center remains confusing, but there are clues. On the right side of the image Miri is a very brilliant red region known to be rich in molecular materials. He could maintain the key to explain why the cloud goes beyond the production of stars from the entire galactic center, potentially reshaping the theories of the way galaxies develop and evolve. Scientists plan to use the new webb data on the B2 sagittarius to determine for how long it has formed stars and if a specific event has triggered its prolific activity.
For more images of sublime space, consult our Archives week space photo.
