NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day, March 18, 2023: Wolf-Rayet 124 star, 30 times larger than the Sun

NASA has captured images of Wolf-Rayet 124, one of the most massive and bright stars. It was featured as the Astronomy Picture of the Day on March 18 by the US satellite agency. In June 2022, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope made its initial observation of it. It is located towards the northern constellation Sagitta at a distance of roughly 15000 light-years. Most startlingly, it has a mass that is over 30 times that of the Sun.

While presenting the image, NASA stated, "In this clear infrared image, shrouds of gas and dust that are spreading due to strong stellar winds surround the bright, brilliant star Wolf-Rayet 124. The James Webb Space Telescope's 18 hexagonal mirrors provide stellar images that are distinguished by the striking 6-spike star pattern."

• Information on Wolf-Rayet 124 :

According to NASA, the huge star's tumultuous nebula, which is almost 6 light-years across, was created during a brief and sporadic stage of massive star growth within the Milky Way. This nebula foretells the approaching supernova explosion that will announce the impending star death of WR 124. Future generations of stars will be shaped by the dusty cosmic material produced by the supernova and contained within the nebula.