NASA Unveils Stunning Holiday-Themed Star Cluster Images

Astronomers use data from Chandra and Webb telescopes to study star formation and evolution in NGC 602 and NGC 2264, resembling a cosmic wreath and Christmas tree.

The NGC 602 star cluster, located 200,000 light-years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud, resembles a holiday wreath due to its dense dust clouds and colorful star formations.
The image of NGC 602 combines X-ray data from NASA's Chandra Observatory with infrared data from the James Webb Space Telescope, revealing insights into early star evolution.
Astronomers are studying NGC 602's stars, which contain fewer heavy elements, to better understand conditions in the early universe billions of years ago.
The NGC 2264 cluster, known as the 'Christmas Tree Cluster,' is located 2,500 light-years away and features young stars arranged in a festive conical shape.
These observations provide valuable data on how stars are born, evolve, and die, contributing to our understanding of the universe's development over time.