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                           Astronomy Picture of the Day   
      
       Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our   
         fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation   
                       written by a professional astronomer.   
      
                                 2025 September 23   
      Stars dot the frame that has a blue background. Covering the lower part   
      of the image, and the far right, are brown and tan nebular structures.   
             Please see the explanation for more detailed information.   
      
                       NGC 6357: Cathedral to Massive Stars   
        Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, JWST; Processing: Alyssa Pagan   
                                     (STScI);   
             Rollover: NASA, ESA, HST, & J. M. Apell+íniz (IAA, Spain);   
                    Acknowledgement: D. De Martin (ESA/Hubble)   
      
      Explanation: How massive can a normal star be? Estimates made from   
      distance, brightness and standard solar models had given one star in   
      the open cluster Pismis 24 over 200 times the mass of our Sun, making   
      it one of the most massive stars known. This star is the brightest   
      object located in the central cavity near the bottom center of the   
      featured image taken with the Webb Space Telescope in infrared light.   
      For comparison, a rollover image from the Hubble Space Telescope is   
      also featured in visible light. Close inspection of the images,   
      however, has shown that Pismis 24-1 derives its brilliant luminosity   
      not from a single star but from three at least. Component stars would   
      still remain near 100 solar masses, making them among the more massive   
      stars currently on record. Toward the bottom of the image, stars are   
      still forming in the associated emission nebula NGC 6357. Appearing   
      perhaps like a Gothic cathedral, energetic stars near the center appear   
      to be breaking out and illuminating a spectacular cocoon.   
      
          Teachers & Students: Ideas for Utilizing APOD in the Classroom   
                        Tomorrow's picture: black hole bang   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.   
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                         A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,   
                              NASA Science Activation   
                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
      
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