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(Image): Feast your eyes on the Westerlund 2 star cluster, a breathtaking view captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Located 20,000 light-years away, this region is home to some of the hottest, brightest, and most massive stars we know. (Image credit: ESA/NASA/CSA, et al.)
Fact Worth Sharing: The JWST's incredible power lets it see things other telescopes can't. In the Westerlund 2 star cluster, it spotted previously unseen brown dwarfs, some as small as about 10 times the mass of Jupiter!
From The Planetary Society:
Speaking of brown dwarfs... But here's where it gets controversial... The lines of what constitutes a planet can get blurry. For instance, a free-floating object several times the mass of Jupiter could be called a rogue planet (one that isn't orbiting a star) or a brown dwarf (a 'failed star' that's not massive enough to ignite). Dive deeper into the fascinating world of rogue planets (what they are, how they form, and how they challenge our definitions) in our guide. (Image: An artist’s impression of a rogue planet. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.)
"A world’s a world, no matter how small." That's the view of Kate Howells when it comes to moons. Even tiny planetary satellites are fascinating worlds unto themselves, as she explores in her book “Moons: The Mysteries and Marvels of our Solar System.” The author (who also serves as The Planetary Society’s public education specialist) discusses moons big and small in her interview in The Planetary Society’s book club, featured in this month’s Planetary Radio: Book Club Edition.
It’s been a huge year for space policy and advocacy. In this week’s Planetary Radio, The Planetary Society’s space policy team unpacks what happened, why funding uncertainty matters, and what comes next for space science. You can also watch last week’s virtual Q&A with the team about what’s happened since our October Day of Action and what to expect in the coming months.
Our team is taking a holiday break, so there won’t be any Mission Briefings this week or next. But don't worry, we'll still be bringing you amazing space content to kick off 2026. Happy Holidays!
What's Up:
In the early evening, look for yellowish Saturn high in the west, coming somewhat close to the first quarter Moon on Dec. 26. Very bright Jupiter rises in the mid-evening.
Help save space missions. Join today!
And this is the part most people miss... NASA is at a critical juncture, and your support is vital! Funding for space science and exploration is at risk. NASA is facing significant budget cuts for the first time in a decade, and thousands of skilled scientists, engineers, and technicians have already been laid off at NASA centers across the United States. NASA funding must grow, not shrink, if the agency is to succeed in returning to the Moon, exploring the Solar System, and seeking out life beyond Earth.
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Wow of the Week:
If you love New Year’s Eve fireworks, this one’s for you. This spectacular image shows the aftermath of a supernova explosion. The myriad colors come from X-ray, visible, and infrared data collected by the Chandra, Hubble, Webb, and Spitzer space telescopes. (Image credit: NASA et al.)
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