Exploring Star Formation: Insights from the Carina Nebula

NANAIMO, BC – On June 26, 2025, the Nanaimo Astronomy Society will host a presentation by Breanna Crompvoets, a PhD student from the University of Victoria's Department of Physics and Astronomy. Crompvoets will delve into her groundbreaking research on star formation, drawing on data obtained from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to illuminate how stars emerge from the dense clouds of gas and dust known as nebulae.

Crompvoets’ research highlights the unique conditions required for star formation, likening it to the process of creating a snowball. Just as snow must be of a certain type and density to form cohesive snowballs, the material in nebulae must meet specific conditions to aggregate into stars. "The process of star formation appears to be startlingly inefficient," Crompvoets noted, emphasizing the significance of temperature and material density in these cosmic phenomena.

At temperatures nearing -250 degrees Celsius, gas and dust particles move slowly enough to allow them to stick together, facilitating the formation of stars. In her analogy, Crompvoets explains that if the environment is too chaotic—akin to a blizzard—forming a star becomes nearly impossible. Instead, the presence of sufficient material in a relatively calm state is essential for the initial clumping that leads to star formation.

As stars begin to form, they draw from vast regions of material—initially spanning about 1,000 astronomical units (AU) in diameter, with one AU representing the average distance from the Earth to the Sun (approximately 149.6 million kilometers). As the process progresses, the effective region from which the star draws material narrows down to around 500 AU. Crompvoets described how, as material collides with the forming star, some is ejected, resulting in explosive jets that push gas away while simultaneously allowing new material to be accreted onto the star.

The insights presented by Crompvoets are based on images captured by the JWST, which have unveiled previously hidden areas of star formation, particularly in the Cosmic Cliffs region of the Carina Nebula. "The JWST's advanced detectors are capable of measuring the outflows of material from stars and can see deeper into clouds than any preceding telescopes," she stated.

The upcoming meeting will take place at the Beban Park Social Centre from 7 to 9 p.m. and will feature visual aids to enhance understanding of the complex processes involved in star formation. To learn more about the Nanaimo Astronomy Society and its events, interested individuals can visit their official website.

Crompvoets' work exemplifies the significant advancements in astrophysics made possible through the JWST, which continues to reshape our understanding of the universe. The implications of such research extend beyond mere scientific inquiry; they also foster a deeper appreciation for the dynamic processes that govern the cosmos, highlighting humanity's quest to comprehend its place in the universe.