Stunning new image shows massive star forming in the constellation Scorpius

A spectacular new image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows a likely new star forming in the Milky Way’s Scorpius constellation. 

The telescope, which is jointly operated by NASA and the European Space Agency, glimpsed the likely star forming about 5,900 light-years from Earth, the agencies said in a news release. 

The region where the star appears to be forming has been named IRAS 16562-3959. The star being formed is about 30 times the mass of the sun, NASA said, and it’s likely that this will be among the brightest stars in the galaxy.

The Hubble telescope’s detailed cameras allowed the space agencies to capture spectacular, colorful photos of the emerging star. The shadowy regions of the image are created by light-obscuring dust that blocks some wavelengths of light, according to the news release. 

In the upper left and lower right portions of the image, a powerful jet from the forming star clears that dust away, allowing the camera to capture bold swaths of color. Those colors come from “four separate filters” placed in front of the camera’s light sensors, which allow “very specific wavelengths of light to pass through with each observation,” according to the news release. By studying these wavelengths, astronomers and scientists can learn more about the composition, temperature and density of the region being photographed.  

The Scorpius constellation, where the star appears to be forming, is a zodiac constellation that resembles a scorpion, with the red star Antares at the center of it, according to astronomy website EarthSky. The constellation is best visible in July and August.  

Kerry Breen

Kerry Breen is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University’s Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News’ TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.