8 images of almost dead stars by NASA James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a remarkable image of a massive Wolf-Rayet star, a rare and luminous type of star.

This phase represents a brief and intense period that only certain massive stars experience shortly before exploding as supernovas.

This image was among Webb’s first observations following its launch in late 2021, showcasing its advanced infrared capabilities.

The star observed, named WR 124, is approximately 15,000 light-years away, situated in the constellation Sagittarius.

Only a few massive stars undergo the Wolf-Rayet phase, shedding vast amounts of gas and dust before becoming supernovas.

Studying stars like WR 124 helps astronomers explore early universe stages, as similar stars once seeded the cosmos with heavy elements.

Webb’s infrared vision enables it to explore distant worlds, detect mysterious cosmic structures, and investigate the origins of the universe.

Credit: NASA