At the center of the image, IRAS 16562-3959 likely hosts a massive star – about 30 times the mass of our Sun – that is still in the process of forming. The shadowy clouds appear dark because there is so much light-obscuring dust blocking the near-infrared wavelengths of light Hubble observed. However, near-infrared light does leak out mainly on two sides – upper left and lower right – where a powerful jet from the massive protostar cleared away the dust. Multi-wavelength images like this incredible Hubble scene help us gain a better understanding of how the most massive, brightest stars in our galaxy form.
![Hubble Views a Massive Star Forming – NASA Science Hubble Views a Massive Star Forming – NASA Science](https://i0.wp.com/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/hubble-iras16562-3959-potw2407a.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)