A magnificent portrait of a stellar death

The planetary nebula NGC 6537, also known as the Red Spider Nebula, stands out in this magnificent portrait of a stellar death. Planetary nebulae form when ordinary stars like the Sun reach the end of their lives. Using its Near-InfraRed Camera, the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has revealed never-before-seen details in this picturesque region of cosmic gas and dust, here seen as a cosmic creepy-crawly glowing against a rich tapestry of distant stars.  

From the formation of stars and planets to the birth of the first galaxies in the early Universe, Webb's mission is answering ultimate questions about the Universe and making breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy.