CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The Webb Space Telescope has captured a plume of gas and dust streaming from a star in the making, with a spiral galaxy as a stunning backdrop.
The composite image makes it look as though the overflow of stellar material is the billowing contrail of a rocket on its way to the galaxy. NASA and the European Space Agency released the photo on Monday.
The outflow is about 625 light-years from Earth in one of the closest star-forming regions of our Milky Way galaxy, according to NASA. A light-year is equivalent to almost 6 trillion miles.
Launched in 2021 as the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, Webb observed the scene in the infrared. NASA said in a statement it was “a lucky alignment” of the two unrelated objects.
NASA's retired Spitzer Space Telescope captured the same shot in 2006, with scientists then dubbing the stellar jet “the cosmic tornado.” But it was too fuzzy to make out the background galaxy and other details. Webb is the largest and most powerful observatory ever launched into space.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
An undated image from NASA’s Webb Space Telescope shows an outflow from a nearby still-forming star in infrared light, with a spiral galaxy off in the distance. (NASA via AP)
VATICAN CITY (AP) — People have gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican to mourn Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope who charmed believers with his humble style.
Francis died Monday after making a final, poignant public appearance on Easter Sunday. He blessed the crowd of faithful from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica in an appearance about a month after his lengthy hospitalization for pneumonia.
Tributes to Francis were shared from around the world, and cardinals were meeting Tuesday at the Vatican to plan his funeral and the conclave to elect his successor.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A woman sits on the Angels Unawares sculpture by Canadian artist Timothy P. Schmalz, which was was inaugurated by the late Pope Francis and depicts migrants and refugees throughout history, in St. Peter's Square as people wait to pay their respects at the Pontiff's coffin at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Margaret, left, and Sara from Slovakia sit at St. Peter's Square in front of St. Peter's Basilica where the body of Pope Francis will lie in state for three days, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
A woman sits in St. Peter's Square as people wait to pay their respects to the late Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People take pictures in St. Peter's Square as the ceremony with the Pope Francis' body, who will lie in state for three days, arrives at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Nuns wait in St. Peter's Square to pay their respect to the late Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Vatican Swiss Guards march in the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican before the body of Pope Francis will be carried inside where he will lie in state for three days, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
People wait at St. Peter's Square ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Priests in St. Peter's Basilica wait for the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
People gather in St. Peter's Square as they await the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
A prelate holds a picture of Pope Francis as he enters the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where the body of Pope Francis will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
Nuns arrive to St. Peter's Square as they await the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter¥s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Pontifical Swiss guards stand in St. Peter's Square before the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Men wash the steps St. Peter's Basilica before the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A nun holds a rosary and a picture of Pope Francis during a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Tuesday April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
A nun leans on railings in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican,Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Italian army soldiers carrying an anti drone gun patrol the area in front of St. Peter's Square before a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in Rome Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
A giant screen announces a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
A man wearing an Argentina soccer jersey prays at the Santo Spirito in Sassia Church, Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy, in Rome, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Faithful and nuns gather by the statue of Pope Pius IX, inside in St. Mary Major basilica, where Pope Francis will be buried, in Rome, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cardinal Silvano Tomasi blesses a nun in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
A portrait of Pope Francis with a message below it reading in Italian "Farewell Pope Francis", is seen in the window of a religious jewellery shop, near the Vatican, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Australian pilgrims walk to St. Peter's Square at the Vatican,Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Faithful react as they attend a Mass for the late Pope Francis, at the St. John Lateran Basilica, in Rome, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Nuns attend a Mass for the late Pope Francis, at the St. John Lateran Basilica, in Rome, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Faithful gather for a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis's body is laid out in state inside his private chapel at the Vatican, Monday, April 21, 2025. From left, Dean Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, unidentified bishop, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Master of Ceremonies Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell, and Master of Ceremonies Lubomir Welnitz. (Vatican Media via AP, HO)
An icon of Pope Francis at the Saint Paul Outside the Walls Basilica in Rome, Tuesday April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia )
People walk around St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Cardinal Silvano Tomasi arrives in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
A pilgrim kneels in prayer on the Scala Santa, holy stairs, of the Church of Church of Saints Michael and Magnus, in Rome near the Vatican, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pilgrims arrive in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
A woman holds a picture of Pope Francis reading in Italian "Farewell Francis, thank you His Holiness, today all the people cry for you" in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican after Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell announced the death of Pope Francis, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Cardinals, right, arrive for a meeting of cardinals, at the Vatican, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Cardinal Silvano Tomasi arrives in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
A cardboard cutout of the late Pope Francis is placed next to candles and flowers outside St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Pilgrims carrying a cross make their way to the Holy Door in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican after Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell announced the death of Pope Francis, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Faithful participate in a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pilgrims carrying a cross make their way to the Holy Door in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican after Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell announced the death of Pope Francis, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Faithful gather for a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Faithful gather for a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Faithful gather for a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, right, walks away after leading a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Copies of the Vatican paper L'Osservatore Romano are distributed after a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Faithful gather for a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Nuns walk to Vatican City, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Pilgrims from Croatia arrive at the Vatican, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Faithful gather for a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A woman attends a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Faithful gather for a rosary prayer for the late Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday April 21, 2025 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
