James Webb Space Telescope Feed Post

Arxiv: Overview Results of JWST Observations of Star-Forming Clusters in the Extreme Outer Galaxy Published: 7/10/2024 7:47:38 PM Updated: 7/10/2024 7:47:38 PM

Paper abstract: The extreme outer Galaxy (EOG), which we define as the region of the MilkyWay with a galactocentric radius of more than 18 kpc, provides an excellentopportunity to study star formation in an environment significantly differentfrom that in the solar neighborhood because of its lower metallicity and lowergas density. We carried out near- and mid-infrared (NIR and MIR) imagingobservations toward two star-forming clusters located in the EOG using JWSTNIRCam and MIRI with nine filters: F115W, F150W, F200W, F350W, F405N, F444W,F770W, F1280W, and F2100W. In this paper, we present an overview of theobservations, data reduction, and initial results. The NIR sensitivity isapproximately 10--80 times better than our previous observation with the Subaru8.2 m telescope. Accordingly, the mass detection limit reaches to about0.01--0.05 M_\odot, which is about 10 times better than the previousobservations. At MIR wavelengths, the high sensitivity and resolution dataenable us to resolve individual young stellar objects in such a distant regionfor the first time. The mass detection limit at MIR F770W filter reaches about0.1--0.3 M_\odot. With these new observations, we have identified componentsof the clusters that previous surveys did not detect, including class 0candidates, outflow/jet components, and distinctive nebular structures. Thesedata will enable us to investigate the properties of star formation in the EOGat the same depth of detail as previous observations of star formation in thesolar neighborhood.