Research based on a 2023 image of the Sagittarius C stellar nursery, taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, has uncovered ejections from forming stars and the effects of strong magnetic fields on interstellar gas and star formation.
Astrophysicist John Bally highlighted a long-standing mystery: why dense clouds of gas and dust in this region produce so few stars. The findings suggest that strong magnetic fields may suppress star formation, even on small scales.
Webb’s advanced infrared capabilities have allowed astronomers to pierce through dense clouds, offering an unprecedented look at young stars. As noted by Samuel Crowe, a lead researcher and 2025 Rhodes Scholar, this builds on earlier observations from telescopes like ALMA and MeerKAT.
Researchers confirmed earlier findings from ALMA that two massive stars are forming in Sagittarius C’s brightest cluster. By analyzing data from NASA’s Spitzer Telescope, SOFIA mission, Herschel Observatory, and Webb, they determined that these protostars are each over 20 times the mass of the Sun, and Webb uncovered bright outflows powered by them.
Studying low-mass protostars is even more challenging, as they remain hidden in dust. The team identified five likely candidates by comparing Webb’s data with ALMA’s observations.
Additionally, they discovered 88 signs of shocked hydrogen gas from jets released by young stars, identifying a new star-forming cloud distinct from Sagittarius C. This new cloud hosts at least two protostars with active jets.
These observations provide vital insights into star formation in the galaxy’s Central Molecular Zone and mark an important breakthrough in understanding cosmic processes.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, SARAO, Samuel Crowe (UVA), John Bally (CU), Ruben Fedriani (IAA-CSIC), Ian Heywood (Oxford)
Webb’s 2023 image of Sagittarius C revealed dozens of striking filaments in a hot hydrogen plasma region near the main star-forming cloud. Researchers, led by John Bally, propose that magnetic fields—previously observed by ALMA and MeerKAT—shape these filaments.
The tidal forces from the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, may stretch and amplify surrounding magnetic fields, confining plasma into concentrated filaments.
These strong magnetic fields might also resist gravitational collapse, suppressing star formation and explaining the lower-than-expected birth rate of stars in Sagittarius C.
This discovery opens the door to future studies of how magnetic fields influence stellar formation and ecosystem dynamics in our galaxy and others. Such research could reshape our understanding of star formation in extreme environments.
Journal Reference
- John Bally, Samuel Crowe, Rubén Fedriani, Adam Ginsburg, Rainer Schödel, Morten Andersen, Jonathan C. Tan, Zhi-Yun Li, Francisco Nogueras-Lara, Yu Chenget al. The JWST-NIRCam View of Sagittarius C. II. Evidence for Magnetically Dominated H ii Regions in the Central Molecular Zone. The Astrophysical Journal. DOI 10.3847/1538-4357/ad9d0b
- Samuel Crowe, Rubén Fedriani, Jonathan C. Tan, Alva Kinman, Yichen Zhang, Morten Andersen, Lucía Bravo Ferres, Francisco Nogueras-Lara, Rainer Schödel, John Bally et al. The JWST-NIRCam View of Sagittarius C. I. Massive Star Formation and Protostellar Outflows. The Astrophysical Journal. DOI 10.3847/1538-4357/ad8889
Source: Tech Explorist
