A new infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope reveals two rambunctious young stars that are destroying their natal dust cloud, known as BHR 71, with powerful jets of radiation. In the visible-light image at left, BHR 71 is just a large black structure. The infrared image (center) uncovers baby stars, energetic jets, and curved bow shocks. The combined visible-light infrared composite (right) shows that a young star's powerful jet is responsible for the rupture at the bottom of the dense cloud in the visible-light image. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Bourke (CfA)
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