Milky Way may reveal how our galaxy compares to others.

NASA reports that the James Webb Space Telescope uses infrared observations to study star formation and the Milky Way’s central region, including its relatively quiet supermassive black hole.

The Milky Way is being observed with the James Webb Space Telescope to learn how stars form, evolve, and die. Webb's infrared instruments can see through dust that blocks visible light. That capability lets astronomers study dim red dwarf stars, ancient globular clusters, and the dense region around the galaxy's supermassive black hole. These observations aim to provide a local baseline for comparing the Milky Way with other galaxies. What Webb is studying: - Stages of the stellar life cycle, from collapsing gas clouds and star birth to later evolution and death. - Dust-shrouded dying stars and stellar remnants, where infrared light can penetrate ejected material. - The population and distribution of red dwarf stars to improve counts and histories of star formation. - Globular clusters at the galaxy's outskirts, including analyses of their compositions and possible origins. - The dense central region and the supermassive black hole, which is reported as less active than similar black holes in other galaxies. Summary: Webb's infrared data are improving knowledge of how stars form and how the Milky Way's structure developed. This work helps build a local baseline for comparing other galaxies. Undetermined at this time.