NASA’s Webb Observes Immense Stellar Jet on Outskirts of Our Milky Way
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured a rare and massive stellar jet erupting from a growing protostar in the Sharpless 2-284 nebula. The jet spans 8 light-years—twice the distance to Alpha Centauri—and resembles a double-bladed lightsaber. The protostar, about ten times the mass of our Sun, lies 15,000 light-years away. Scientists were surprised by the discovery, as such powerful outflows of molecular hydrogen from massive stars are uncommon in our galaxy.