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Multiwavelength View of NGC 346 (Spitzer, NTT, XMM-Newton)

A multiwavelength view of NGC 346. The center of the image contains wispy green-yellow material, and arcs of orange and pink gas that form a boat-like shape. Among the center is a large cluster of blue-white stars.

This image of the star-forming cloud NGC 346 is a combination of multiwavelength light from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope (infrared), the European Southern Observatory's New Technology Telescope (visible), and the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton space telescope (X-ray). Webb’s sharper infrared vision will allow astronomers to survey in greater detail developing stars still encased in their natal cocoons of gas and dust.

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    00h 59m 18s
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    -72° 10' 48.0"
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Tucana
  • Distance
    DistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
    210,000 light-years away (64,000 parsecs)
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    NGC 346
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Star-forming region in the Small Magellanic Cloud
  • Release Date
    December 12, 2018
  • Science Release
    NASA’s Webb Telescope Will Provide Census of Fledgling Stars in Stellar Nursery
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Image: NASA, Caltech, Dimitrios Gouliermis (MPIA)

Downloads

  • Full Res, 2000 × 2000
    jpg (3.97 MB)

Related Images & Videos

NGC 346 as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. The nebula appears as a cloudy blue area that roughly extends from the upper right to the bottom left corner. Within the blue area are many bright, white newborn stars.

Infrared View of NGC 346 (Hubble)

Infant stars still embedded in gas and dust in the NGC 346 nebula shine brightly in this Hubble Space Telescope image. Webb’s infrared vision will uncover thousands more developing stars in this star-forming region.

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Details

Last Updated
Aug 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Laura Betz
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov

Image Credit

NASA, Caltech, Dimitrios Gouliermis (MPIA)

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