Spanning over 6.6 light-years, Westerlund 1 contains a mass equivalent to about 63,000 suns, providing a prime target for studying stellar evolution and planetary system formation.

The cluster is believed to be between 5 and 10 million years old and has a radius of about 3.26 light years.

Astronomers have utilized the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to capture stunning new images of Westerlund 1, the closest supermassive star cluster to Earth, located approximately 12,000 light years away.

Westerlund 1 is estimated to have a mass between 50,000 and 100,000 solar masses, making it the most massive known stellar cluster in the Milky Way.

Recent observations revealed an elongated nebular trunk, about 3.3 light years in size, pointing toward the center of the cluster, along with cloud fragments surrounding the massive stars.

Studying Westerlund 1 is crucial for understanding star formation during 'starburst periods,' which were more common in the early universe when galaxies frequently collided.

This research enhances our understanding of star formation and the dynamics within one of the Milky Way's most significant stellar clusters.

The outcomes of this research have been accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics and are also available on arXiv for public access.

The Extended Westerlund 1 and 2 Open Clusters Survey (EWOCS) aims to explore the true composition and mass distribution of the cluster's stars, including the elusive brown dwarfs.

Westerlund 1 is notable for hosting hundreds of massive stars in close binary systems, which significantly influences star and planet formation due to the energetic radiation and high-speed particles present in the environment.

JWST's infrared observations also reveal young stars surrounded by protoplanetary disks, indicating that planet formation processes are actively occurring.

The JWST's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) have uncovered unexpected structures of gas and dust around Westerlund 1, suggesting ongoing interactions and material accumulation from the winds of massive stars.