Astronomers studying a stellar cluster within the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) have found young stars spiraling in towards the center of the cluster. The cluster, NGC 346, is an open cluster embedded within a glowing cloud of gas, which is typical of stellar nurseries – places where new stars are formed. The outer spiral arm of this star forming region appears to be funneling gas, dust and new stars into the center, which researchers describe as an efficient way to fuel the birth of new stars.
Continue reading “Stars Spiral Inward to the Cores of Stellar Nurseries”Stars Spiral Inward to the Cores of Stellar Nurseries
![Image of NGC 346, a stellar nursery where astronomers have discovered newborn stars spiralling in towards the center of a nebula](https://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Spiralling_stars_provide_a_window_into_the_early_Universe-1280x1200.jpg)