NASA has released a breathtaking composite image of IC 348, a star-forming region nestled within our Milky Way galaxy. The visual combines X-ray data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory with infrared imagery from the James Webb Space Telescope, revealing a cosmic tapestry of color and motion.

In this July 2025 release, X-rays appear in red, green, and blue, while infrared hues glow in pink, orange, and purple. The wispy structures dominating the scene are part of a reflection nebula—interstellar dust and gas illuminated by the light of newborn stars.

The point-like sources captured in Chandra’s data are young stars in the early stages of development. Together, the instruments offer a multidimensional view of stellar formation, showcasing how light and matter interact across the electromagnetic spectrum.

This image not only highlights NASA’s collaborative power across observatories but also deepens our understanding of how stars emerge and evolve within galactic nurseries.